New N.J. Charity Regulator Vows Tough Line on Fraud

New Jersey’s top consumer-affairs official is revamping the agency to pursue charity scams more aggressively, according to The Record.

Thomas Calcagni was formally confirmed in late June as head of the state Division of Consumer Affairs, which oversees nonprofit groups, after leading the department in an acting capacity.

The former federal prosecutor said he has taken “seasoned investigators” off routine regulatory work and moved them into dedicated enforcement units. The moves mark a major change in approach for New Jersey, which, unlike neighboring Pennsylvania and New York, has not been known for a tough regulatory stance on nonprofit groups.

“There are specific investigations we’ve got going on the charities side,” Mr. Calcagni said, including probes of “a number of car-donation schemes, horse-rescue charities, medical-device charities.”

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