Fund-Raising Firm Barred From State For Five Years

For the first time, the state attorney general's office has barred a charitable fund-raising company from operating in Washington.

The office announced yesterday it had reached a settlement with Jensen and Associates President Mark Sterling Bergeson that puts him out of the fund-raising business for five years.

In 1994, the attorney general sued Bergeson over allegations that his Woodinville-based company lied to obtain donations.

An investigation revealed that representatives of the firm called residents to sell tickets to celebrity sporting events the firm had arranged, featuring professional athletes and police and firefighters. Purchasers were told the firm would donate tickets to underprivileged children on behalf of various organizations, including the Pierce County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Seattle Seahawks and the Puget Sound Fire Fighters All Stars.

But the company couldn't produce records verifying that all of the tickets and donations went to the stated causes or that it had permission to raise money for the groups.

"There were many misrepresentations in the course of raising the money," said Assistant Attorney General David Horn.

The settlement reached in King County Superior Court orders Bergeson - who also goes by the name Mark Jensen - to perform 200 hours of community service in lieu of restitution and to pay the state $10,000 in legal costs and fees. If Bergeson violates the agreement, he will face a $50,000 fine. Neither Bergeson nor his attorney could be reached for comment.

People solicited to donate money should first call the secretary of state's office in Olympia - 1-800-332-4483 - to verify the organization is registered, Horn said.