A Merrimack County Superior Court Judge has ordered the closure of the Veterans Museum of New Hampshire and ordered its president, Henry T. Pratte, to pay a $10,000 dollar fine.
The Court says Pratte also must pay $1,000 dollars in restitution to a veteran who contributed money, and that Pratte will be barred for ten years from involvement with any New Hampshire charitable organization.
In 2009, Pratte began raising money for the museum, to be built in Boscawen, near the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. He falsely claimed donations to the Museum would be tax deductible.
Thomas Donovan is the director of Charitable Trusts in New Hampshire. He says Pratte had opportunities to register with the state and the federal government.
“We gave him quite a bit of time," Donovan says. "When he wasn’t complying, then we’d start sending him letters.”
Pratt eventually registered with the state, but not the federal government. Now that state registration will be revoked.
Reached by phone, Pratte said he has no comment.
