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COMPLAINT FILED WITH IRS AGAINST PASADENA ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
For Immediate Release
February 2, 2015
Contact: Ara K. Manoogian
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.thetruthmustbetold.com
Due to the failure of the leadership of the Pasadena Armenian Genocide
Memorial Committee (PAGMC), a non-profit organization, to provide
copies of the IRS Form 990 for the last three years, Ara K. Manoogian,
an investigative journalist, founder ofTheTruthMustBeTold.com,
filed a complaint with the IRS, on February 1, 2015, to have the
PAGMC comply with the Exempt Organization Public Disclosure and
Availability Requirements.
After PAGMC's former chairman William Paparianaccused PAGMC's board
of wrongdoings, including failure to 'follow California law regarding
legal filings,' Ara Manoogian, as a PAGMC donor for the construction
of a memorial commemorating the death of 1.5 million Armenians in
the first genocide of the 20th century, started an investigation
to check the accuracy of Paparian's claims. On October 5, 2014,
Manoogian sent an email to Bernard Melekian, PAGMC's co-chair (then
the interim chairman), former Pasadena Police Chief, and, currently,
Santa Barbara County Undersheriff, with a request to provide copies
of the IRS Form 990 for the last three years; the IRS Form 1023;
documentation from the State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
showing that the PAGMC is tax-exempt; and documentation showing that
the PAGMC was in good standing with the State of California at the
time of soliciting and receiving his donation. The email was also
CC'ed to the Community Foundation of the Verdugos, which provides
repository for the PAGMC's funds, and the IRS.
To this day, the PAGMC has failed to provide copies of any of
the requested documents. This failure to comply with the Exempt
Organization Public Disclosure and Availability Requirements may cost
the board and Bernard Melekian thousands of dollars in penalties. The
investigation into PAGMC's activities eventually revealed that the
board had engaged in other illegal activities (see Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Committee in Crisis, Crisis at Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Committee Continues, Why Build Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Without Current Board and How).
Unfortunately, none of those irregularities have been addressed to
this day, which is likely to have paved the way to more infractions.
Recently, Richard Vartanian, another PAGMC donor, asked the Pasadena
City Council and Staff whether the construction of the Memorial, which
officially commenced on January 25, 2015, is in full compliance with
the provisions of the City Charter sections 1002 and 1601, as well
as California Law. Vartanian hasn't received any response yet.
For Immediate Release
February 2, 2015
Contact: Ara K. Manoogian
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.thetruthmustbetold.com
Due to the failure of the leadership of the Pasadena Armenian Genocide
Memorial Committee (PAGMC), a non-profit organization, to provide
copies of the IRS Form 990 for the last three years, Ara K. Manoogian,
an investigative journalist, founder ofTheTruthMustBeTold.com,
filed a complaint with the IRS, on February 1, 2015, to have the
PAGMC comply with the Exempt Organization Public Disclosure and
Availability Requirements.
After PAGMC's former chairman William Paparianaccused PAGMC's board
of wrongdoings, including failure to 'follow California law regarding
legal filings,' Ara Manoogian, as a PAGMC donor for the construction
of a memorial commemorating the death of 1.5 million Armenians in
the first genocide of the 20th century, started an investigation
to check the accuracy of Paparian's claims. On October 5, 2014,
Manoogian sent an email to Bernard Melekian, PAGMC's co-chair (then
the interim chairman), former Pasadena Police Chief, and, currently,
Santa Barbara County Undersheriff, with a request to provide copies
of the IRS Form 990 for the last three years; the IRS Form 1023;
documentation from the State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
showing that the PAGMC is tax-exempt; and documentation showing that
the PAGMC was in good standing with the State of California at the
time of soliciting and receiving his donation. The email was also
CC'ed to the Community Foundation of the Verdugos, which provides
repository for the PAGMC's funds, and the IRS.
To this day, the PAGMC has failed to provide copies of any of
the requested documents. This failure to comply with the Exempt
Organization Public Disclosure and Availability Requirements may cost
the board and Bernard Melekian thousands of dollars in penalties. The
investigation into PAGMC's activities eventually revealed that the
board had engaged in other illegal activities (see Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Committee in Crisis, Crisis at Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Committee Continues, Why Build Pasadena Armenian
Genocide Memorial Without Current Board and How).
Unfortunately, none of those irregularities have been addressed to
this day, which is likely to have paved the way to more infractions.
Recently, Richard Vartanian, another PAGMC donor, asked the Pasadena
City Council and Staff whether the construction of the Memorial, which
officially commenced on January 25, 2015, is in full compliance with
the provisions of the City Charter sections 1002 and 1601, as well
as California Law. Vartanian hasn't received any response yet.