6A | MARCH 4, 2021
|
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Deputies make arrest in large-scale fraud case
DOUGLAS
COUN-
TY — On Friday, Feb. 26,
deputies with the Douglas
County Sheriff ’s Office
served search warrants in
Elkton and Cottage Grove
in regard to a five-month
long investigation into a
fraudulent non-profit or-
ganization run by an in-
dividual using the alias of
“John P. Hope.”
During the course of
the investigation, “Hope”
was identified as 40-year-
old Tyrone Curtis Powell.
Powell was arrested during
the execution of the search
warrants.
In the later months of
2020, deputies began an
investigation into the sus-
pected fraudulent trans-
action of privately-owned
property to a foundation
called the “Impossible
Roads Foundation,” which
was run by Powell.
The victim in the trans-
action was elderly and
under the impression the
foundation was a legitimate
non-profit
organization
that built tiny-homes for
disabled veterans. The vic-
tim originally had agreed
to donate approximately
3 acres to the foundation,
believing it was legitimate.
But during the transac-
tion Powell actually ob-
tained approximately 30.8
acres and a shop. Powell
immediately began assum-
ing the shop and property
as his own property after
the transaction.
After the transaction for
the property, Powell ob-
tained Restraining Orders
against the victim and filed
criminal reports accusing
the victim of other crimes,
such as burglary and theft.
Powell filed these reports
and court documents using
the alias of “John Hope.”
Deputies initially inves-
a ..
Powell fled Arizona.
Powell is believed to have
traveled to Alaska, initially,
and then shortly there af-
ter to Bellingham, Wash.
Once in Bellingham, Pow-
ell assumed the identity of
“John Hope” and was able
to illegally obtain a Wash-
ington Identification card
and Social Security card
under the new alias with
his fraudulent story.
While in Bellingham,
he again started anoth-
er fraudulent non-profit
organization, Impossible
Roads Foundation.
Under this fraudulent or-
ganization, Powell claimed
to build tiny homes for
disabled veterans. Powell
obtained large donations
from companies such as
Home Depot and Matson,
as well as others.
In January of 2021, dep-
uties traveled to Belling-
ham and interviewed mul-
tiple individuals who were
familiar with Powell, and
who knew him as “John
Hope.”
While in Bellingham,
deputies also investigat-
ed the Impossible Roads
Foundation and its claims
of building tiny homes.
Through the investiga-
tion, deputies learned the
majority of the donated
items were not being uti-
lized and were essentially
abandoned.
Furthermore, it was
learned the majority of
shipping containers, which
were donated under the
pretenses they were to
be used as the tiny home
structures, had been sold
to a company or individu-
als.
Deputies also investigat-
ed some of Powell’s history
in Arizona and were able
to contact an individual
who was able to provide
Tyrone Curtis Powell,
aka “John P. Hope.”
tigated “Hope’s” identity
and learned that his actual
name was Tyrone Curtis
Powell. During this por-
tion of the investigation,
deputies learned Powell
had been raised in Califor-
nia, attended Yale Univer-
sity and resided in Arizona,
where he became involved
in fraudulent activity.
Also, during this time,
Powell operated sepa-
rate/unrelated fraudulent
non-profit organizations
under the names of “The
Missing Piece Foundation,”
“True Story World,” “The
Missing Piece Foundation
Endowment,”
“Machine
Seven Super Car Tour” and
“Love.”
While in Arizona, Pow-
ell’s fraudulent activity be-
gan to catch up with him
in both criminal and civil
proceedings. In 2009, Pow-
ell was arrested for alter-
ing a VIN on a vehicle in
which he had obtained a
loan, then reported stolen
and removed the VIN and
license plate.
Powell also became in-
volved in civil litigation
for defaulting on loans.
Powell made claims to law
enforcement that he was
a victim of identity theft
resulting in hundreds of
thousand dollars in loss.
In approximately 2010,
an obituary for Powell was
printed in the local news-
paper. A couple years later
c1og!Ire
eed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clea
detailed history on Powell’s
behavior and sudden dis-
appearance from Arizona.
Based on the informa-
tion learned in the investi-
gation, deputies applied for
and were granted search
warrants for Powell’s ho-
tel room in Cottage Grove
as well as the shop in Elk-
ton. Powell was arrested
and lodged at the Douglas
County Jail on the follow-
ing charges:
• Aggravated Theft by
Deception in the 1st De-
gree
• Identity Theft, Forgery
in the 1st Degree
• Perjury (2 counts)
• False Swearing (2
counts)
• Criminal Possession of
a Forged Instruments in
the 1st Degree
• Unlawful Possession of
a Fictitious Identification
• Fraudulently Obtain-
ing a Signature.
Additional charges may
follow.
Deputies were assisted
by the Douglas County
District Attorney’s Office,
Federal Law Enforcement
with the Social Security
Administration, Belling-
ham Police Department,
Washington State Patrol,
and Casa Grande Police
Department (Arizona).
The Sheriff ’s Office is
asking anyone with infor-
mation in regards to this
investigation or Powell,
contact the Douglas Coun-
ty Sheriff ’s Office by email
at dcso.pio@co.douglas.or.
us or through the tip line at
541-957-2099.
1-844-533-9173
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COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
10:00am
Christian Education: Pre-K through 5th
Tim Baker, Senior Minister
www.6thandgibbs.com
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St
541-942-4479
Rev.: Karen Hill
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Sunday School: 10:00am
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Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm
Hope Fellowship
United Pentecostal Church
100 S. Gateway Blvd.
541-942-2061
Pastor: Dave Bragg
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday
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Cottage Grove Bible Church
1200 East Quincy Avenue
541-942-4771
Pastor:Bob Singer
Worship 11am
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
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1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Scripture, Tradition, Reason”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
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820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: James D. Boram
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40
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Trinity Lutheran Church
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: James L. Markus
Sunday School & Adult Education
Living Faith Assembly
9:15am
467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Worship Services Sundays: 9a & 11a Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur
Youth Worship Sundays: 11a (all
5:00pm TLC Groups
ages welcome)
Mondays: 5:30p (6th-12th grades) tlccg.com
United Methodist Church
Non-Denominational
334 Washington 541-942-3033
Church of Christ
Worship 10am
1041 Pennoyer Ave
umcgrove.org
541-942-8928
Preacher: Tony Martin
“VICTORY” Country Church
Cottage Grove Faith Center
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
33761 Row River Rd.
Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm 913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
541-942-4851
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
Worship Service: 10:00am
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv
Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Message: “WE BELIEVE IN
MIRACLES”
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
St. Philip Benizi
Services: 9:00am & 10:45am
Catholic Churches
CRESWELL:
1025. N. 19th St.
Creswell Presbyterian Church
Delight Valley
541-942-3420
75 S 4th S • 541-895-3419
Church of Christ
Father John J. Boyle
Rev. Seth Wheeler
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
Holy Mass:
Adult Sunday School 9:15am
541-942-7711 • Pastor: Bob Friend Saturday Vigil – 5:30 pm
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am
Two Services:
Sunday – 10:30 am
9am - Classic in the Chapel
For weekday and Holy Day of website www.creswellpres.org
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Obligation schedule see website
Auditorium
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First Baptist Church
301 S. 6th st • 541-942-8242
Pastor: David Chhangte
Sunday School 9:30am
Worship Service 10:30am
Youth Wednesday 6:30pm
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