Couple's lawyer says they have proof of cell phone charity business' legitimacy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The lawyer for a couple accused of operating a charity scam says they have proof that their business and charity are legitimate.<br/><br/>Attorney Billy Coyle says the charges against

Tuesday, April 12th 2005, 6:03 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The lawyer for a couple accused of operating a charity scam says they have proof that their business and charity are legitimate.

Attorney Billy Coyle says the charges against Domingo Frias-Payan and Heather Frias-Payan are overblown and there's no criminal intent in anything they did.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson on Friday said the Oklahoma City-based Save a Life, Give a Phone Foundation misled people into donating cell phones for use by charitable organizations.

Edmondson says the phones were sold for personal profit and that only 300 of the 100,000 phones collected were distributed to charities.

Prosecutors charged the couple last week in Oklahoma County District Court with one felony count of racketeering and 11 counts of violating the Oklahoma Solicitation of Charitable Contributions Act.

Coyle says the couple operated the charity legally with the help of the YMCA, but the president of the Oklahoma City chapter says he's never heard of the couple or their charity.