Online solicitations lead to woman's arrest
Podcast Episode
JANESVILLE — Police have arrested a Janesville woman they say was soliciting online donations for a nonprofit organization she was not affiliated with.
Norita K. Appleby, 20, of 1717 Green Forest Run, No. 103, was arrested Tuesday after Columbus police executed a search warrant at her home with the help of Janesville police. Four computers were seized from the address and will be analyzed later this week.
Appleby is accused of posting an ad in February on www.craigslist.com seeking donations for Kindred Kids, a nonprofit organization in Columbus that helps children with disabilities. The group's founder noticed someone was using the group's name to collect items on craigslist and another Internet site.
Columbus police pinpointed the source of the solicitation to the Janesville address.
According to a news release, Appleby admitted posting the ad—as well as about 50 others in the last six months—claiming to be affiliated with the organizations. Police said her intent was to use any items received for her personal gain.
Appleby is in the Columbia County Jail and will be charged with misappropriation of an entity's identity, a felony.
Columbus police are asking for information from anyone who might have responded to ads placed on craigslist or www.freecycle.org by someone falsely claiming to represent non-profit organizations. Anyone with such information can call Columbus police at (920) 623-5919.
The ads, they said, were placed in the Janesville, Madison and Fond du Lac regions for the Web sites.
Apr 16, 2009 at 12:44 a.m.
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this is very low that this person did this...how are people gonna know for sure if adds are placed on these sites now for real by these companies? i know if it was myself i wouldnt be able to trust them and those sites are out there for those that need the help...and for those that wanna help people...i know i have posted quite a few listings on these sites...i hope she gets whats coming to her...i say let her rot...
Apr 15, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.
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karma sucks, people just have no morals or feelings towards other people and how it might effect them from what they are doing, i think if she got money she should give it to the organization
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