Tennessee man pleads guilty in Newtown charity scam
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the charity he created to benefit the people of Newtown following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
Robert Bruce apologized in federal court in Connecticut on Thursday and acknowledged he used money from his 26.4.26 (26-for-26) foundation for personal expenses.
He pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud and faces up to 18 months in prison under the plea agreement.
The foundation organized marathons in which runners raised money for each of the 26 miles they ran, dedicating each mile to one of the 26 victims of the December 2012 shootings.
Bruce gave $30,000 to a youth sports academy in Newtown. Prosecutors say he stole about $28,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30.
