Complaint Review: Pacific Seabird Group - Honolulu Hawaii

November 9, 2013

Re: Pacific Seabird Group -- Shell Game

Dear Ripoff Report Reader,

There are two organizations with the name "Pacific Seabird Group". One is a delinquent charity. The other is an active for-profit corporation. Both are run by an individual named Doug Forsell.

Today, the delinquent charity solicits donations and grant money as a 501(c)(3) from its website. Although its offices are reportedly located in Honolulu, the address shown for domain ownership is "920 Samoa Blvd., Suite 210, Arcata, CA". In 2003, that was the address for Ron LeValley. LeValley is currently awaiting trial on felony charges for conspiracy and theft (see Mad River Biologists / MRB Research, Inc. -- Shell Game).

In 2010, Pacific Seabird Group received a $50,000 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The check was sent to LeValley's PO box in Little River, CA. But it never showed up in Pacific Seabird Group's bank account -- at least not according to the delinquent charity's tax returns.

The active for-profit corporation appears to be doing fine. According to the California Secretary of State, Forsell is the registered agent at 47130 Iverson Point Road in Point Arena, CA. The address shown for the corporation is PO Box 71493 in Honolulu, HI -- same as the delinquent charity. According to the delinquent charity's website, Forsell is currently the chair. According to its tax return, the delinquent charity's officers all have the same address -- PO Box 71493 in Honolulu, HI.

Two weeks after his arrest, LeValley took a "leave of absence" from his position as treasurer with the delinquent charity and member of its executive committee. When the $50,000 grant disappeared, the delinquent charity's books were in LeValley's possession. There's no indication of where they are today.

The letter of exemption at the California State Registry of Charitable Trusts for Pacific Seabird Group appears to have been put together with scotch tape and is stamped July 26, 1985. The same letter at the delinquent charity's website lacks this feature and is dated March 8, 1977. But according to California State records, it wasn't registered as a charity until September 30, 2006.

LeValley is currently awaiting trial on felony charges for conspiracy and theft. At this writing, Forsell is running both the delinquent charity and the active for-profit corporation.

Caveat emptor -- let the donor beware.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

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References

California State Registry of Charitable Trusts: Pacific Seabird Group

rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/ ; go to link at fourth bullet point, "Click here to search for a Organization instead of a person."

enter "Pacific Seabird Group" in "Organization Name" field and "HI" in "State" field.

California Secretary of State Business Search, November 9, 2013 kepler.sos.ca.gov

Donation Information for the Pacific Seabird Group, November 9, 2013 pacificseabirdgroup.org/index.php?f=donations&t=Donations&s=1

Whois.com, pacificseabirdgroup.org registration, November 9, 2013 whois.com/whois/pacificseabirdgroup.org

Pacific Seabird Group, Minutes of the 2003 Executive Council Meeting, November 9, 2013 pacificseabirdgroup.org/OLD/committees.html

 "3 accused of embezzling $900,000 from Yurok Tribe", Press Democrat, February 12, 2012 pressdemocrat.com/article/20120228/wire/120229537

Pacific Seabird Group Executive Committee Minutes, February 27, 2012 pacificseabirdgroup.org/exco_minutes/ChairMessage.pdf

California State Registry of Charitable Trusts: David and Lucile Packard Foundation

rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/ ; go to link at fourth bullet point, "Click here to search for a Organization instead of a person."

enter "David and Lucile Packard Foundation" in "Organization Name" field and "CA" in "State" field.

Pacific Seabird Group 2013 Executive Council, November 9, 2013 pacificseabirdgroup.org/index.php?f=exco&t=EXCO%20Functions&s=1

Pacific Seabird Group IRS Tax Exemption Letter, March 8, 1977 pacificseabirdgroup.org/downloads/PSG.IRSExemptionLetter.pdf

"Local biologist charged with embezzlement: Federal prosecutors charge Ron LeValley in Yurok forestry fraud case", Times-Standard, October 23, 2013

times-standard.com/localnews/ci_24368336/local-biologist-charged-embezzlement-federal-prosecutors-charge-ron