Ohio jury convicts ex-fugitive in $100M veterans charity fraud case

Nov. 13, 2013: Bobby Thompson, who authorities have identified as Harvard-trained attorney John Donald Cody, enters the courtroom in Cleveland. (AP)

CLEVELAND – A mysterious defendant in a $100 million, cross-country Navy veterans charity fraud case was convicted Thursday of racketeering, theft, money laundering and other charges.

The jury, which deliberated for about three hours Wednesday, heard nothing from the ex-fugitive, who changed his mind and decided against testifying. His attorney said he wanted to tell his story but worried about his mental state if he faced aggressive cross-examination by prosecutors.

The defendant identifies himself as 67-year-old Bobby Thompson, but authorities say he's Harvard-trained attorney John Donald Cody. He was indicted in 2010, disappeared for nearly two years and was arrested last year in Portland, Ore.

He was charged with looting the United States Navy Veterans Association, a charity he ran in Tampa, Fla. As his five-week trial wound down before closing arguments Tuesday, he had appeared disheveled in court, so much so that the judge suggested a break to allow him to get a clean shirt and comb his hair.

His attorney, Joseph Patituce, noted during a break in the trial that the defendant had bloodied himself last week while pounding his head against the wall in a holding cell. The judge said the defendant was checked by the jail medical staff.

Authorities believe he defrauded donors of up to $100 million in 41 states. A fraction of that money was found.

When he was arrested, authorities found fake IDs and a suitcase with $980,000 in cash.

Records show the defendant had showered politicians, often Republicans, with political donations. The judge rejected a defense request to subpoena testimony from leading Ohio Republicans, including U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

Authorities said they traced the name Bobby Thompson to a man who wasn't connected to the charity case and had his identity stolen, including his Social Security number and date of birth.

The defendant was identified through military fingerprint records.