Today (Oct. 13, 2007) John Shiffman of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the federal prosecutor in the Independence Seaport Museum / John S. Carter case wants to send the ex-head of the museum up the river for a long time.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Pease said that after the FBI raided his Philadelphia home, tipping him to the investigation, Carter unsuccessfully tried to swindle $1 million worth of life insurance from the museum. And, Pease said, after Carter pleaded guilty, he obstructed justice by lying to a probation officer and the IRS about his assets, including a time-share in Mexico, a 1934 Buick, and property in Maine and Nova Scotia.
“This defendant is without any moral compass whatsoever,” the prosecutor said. “John Carter is an offender who has yet to come to grips with the serious nature of his crimes. He is in a class by himself.”
Carter, who ran the nonprofit museum for 17 years, lived rent-free in its Society Hill townhouse while also being paid about $350,000 annually.
Here’s some sad but fascinating reading. (federal indictment)
Sentencing is scheduled for October 22nd.
Technorati tags: Independence Seaport Museum, John S. Carter
Sea-Fever blog 
Hi Richard;
Thanks for the comment. I found it amazing that Carter was able to get away with this for so long; where were the board members and other senior executives. Even more shocking is that he apparently continued his shenanigans after the feds were on his trail.
I was the ED of a national nonprofit for the past 6 years and nearly every month I worried about making payroll and rent!
Enjoy reading Bitter End. Keep up the great work!
Hi Peter,
I worked for a large not for profit for 24 years, and can attest to the fact that some in the very upper levels of management feel that the good life is an entitlement. They work with, and recruit board members who are high fliers, and some in turn feel they need to do the same. Indeed they are servants caught up in seeing how the other side lives.