NW Ohio charity and solicitors charged in fraud scheme

On Tuesday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Commerce announced a joint lawsuit and temporary restraining order against Nancy Jo Frazer, David Frazer, Albert Rosebrock, and their charity, Defining Vision Ministries, formerly known as Focus Up Ministries, Inc., for violations of Ohioâ??s charitable and securities laws.

WNWO reached out to Nancy Jo Frazer, of Bryan, Ohio, on Tuesday evening about the accusations and Frazer said, in part, "we meant no harm, we were the biggest victims of all."

State officials, however, say that the Frazer's and Rosebrock were behind a pyramid scheme called Profitable Sunrise which, authorities allege, was touted as Christian company that used investment proceeds to help charities while also providing investors with large returns.

Nancy Jo Frazer claims that she, her husband and Rosebrock "did not know what was happening".

In a phone interview with WNWO, Frazer said she did not want to go on camera at this time, the self-proclaimed television spokeswoman said that it all started when she was introduced to a man named "Roman Novack" by phone.

Frazer says that "Novack" was referred to her as a "reputable collateral lender out of the UK" and says he offered her "free advertising" on his many websites "in exchange for being a group leader for his program" called Profitable Sunrise.

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:56:23 GMT — Mrs. Frazer says she never met "Novack", face to face, but looked him up online and said he "had a good reputation on the internet".

Frazer says that after signing on with "Novack" he began using her name and her ministry for other things, without her knowledge.

According to the stateâ??s complaint, however, it was the Frazer's and Rosebrock who used Focus Up Ministriesâ?? to solicit donations and investments for Profitable Sunrise.

Frazer, however, claims that she is only taking the fall now because "Novack" disappeared when US authorities started sending him cease and desist orders.

"My face was out there," Frazer says of why she thinks state officials have sought legal action against her and her ministry.

Attorney General Mike DeWine says that Profitable Sunrise "defrauded Ohioans and others out of millions of dollarsâ?? but says the [Frazer's and Rosebrock] promised "outrageous returns and [told] investors that their donations and investments would help charities.â??

Frazer says she fully cooperating with state authorities on the case and "wants this resolved...we want to do the right thing".

"We've been so pleased with how [state officials] have treated us..they are just doing their job...We're hoping we can resolve this to the satisfaction of everyone," Frazer added.

The lawsuit against the trio, however, also alleges that the defendants used funds, donated to Focus Up Ministries, for personal expenses and other unlawful purposes.

The Attorney Generalâ??s Office says it is now trying to find "victims" who invested in Profitable Sunrise or were solicited as potential investors as they investigate the situation.

Those with that kind of information are being asked to call the Attorney Generalâ??s Charitable Law Section at 614-466-3181.

A preliminary injunction hearing, in the case, has been scheduled for July 22 at 10 a.m. in the Williams County Common Pleas Court.

Frazer says she hopes it "doesn't get to that point".