Ohio AG Sues Addiction Recovery Ministry for Misuse of Funds

The Lamb’s House board allegedly gave ‘blank check’ to Board President Mark Altomare

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit on Oct. 23 against Lamb’s House, a nonprofit in Columbiana County that claimed to be a ministry supporting addiction recovery. The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the nonprofit, alleging it has not served any charitable purpose since at least 2017. It also accuses Board President Mark Altomare of using charitable funds for personal expenses like food, gas and Hulu subscription payments.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost / Video screenshot

Allegedly, Altomare has lived on over 40 acres owned by Lamb’s House. He is also accused of using funds between Jan. 2022 and Sept. 2024 for personal purchases. Payments included approximately $14,849.94 at Sam’s Club, $12,596.30 for automobile-related purchases, $11,602.30 for gas, $5,298.96 for food and drink at various restaurants, and $3,334.94 for Hulu subscriptions.

“This nonprofit has served no charitable purpose for years, operating only as a personal ATM and a source of free housing for its president,” Yost said. “The jig is up.”

According to the lawsuit, Altomare served as the treasurer, president, board member and sole employee of the ministry. Since at least January 1, 2022, Altomare has been the sole manager of the charitable organization’s assets.

Lamb’s House received 501 (c)(3) status in 2003. According to the lawsuit, its purposes included bringing recovery to alcoholics and drug addicts, reintegrating those people into the community with the love of Christ, and feeding the hungry, clothing the needy and raising money for that work.

According to the lawsuit, the board did not verify or independently review the finances of Lamb’s House. Altomare claimed that financial reports were created by an accountant and given to the board. Other than one report for six months in August, there is no evidence of financial reports.

Altomare and the other board members falsely reported income as “individual contributions, gifts, grants and similar amounts received.” According to the lawsuit, however, that income came from renting out charitable property to a for-profit entity. Altomare claimed that the Lamb’s House housed recovering addicts in the commercial building on the property for an unspecified time before 2017. Between 2017 and 2022, however, they rented out the building to a for-profit entity, not using it for charitable purposes.

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Altomare, according to the lawsuit, claims the ministry’s programming consists of him ministering at various locations, facilitating attendance at Bible conferences, giving away books occasionally, and donating to individuals a few times. But he did not provide any records such as schedules or time-sheets that show he fulfilled those employment requirements.

The ministry’s Form 990 reported a weekly average of 0 hours in 2023, 1 hour in 2022, and 30 hours in 2021. Altomare told Yost that his work had decreased sharply due to substantial health issues.

“Board members gave board president Altomare a blank check to help himself to the funds and assets of Lamb’s House,” Yost’s lawsuit says. “In turn he reported personal expenses as charitable programming expenses without any substantiation, depleting the charity’s assets.”

Yost has sued to dissolve the nonprofit and requested that a court-appointed receiver wind up the affairs of the organization.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on financial fraud in the church? We report on them because one in three churches will be victimized, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. We also report on them because these crimes have real victims and cost taxpayers and other stakeholders billions of dollars every year. Even small crimes in small churches have huge consequences. We also report on them to remind our readers that they do not have to be victims. There are steps you can take to prevent financial waste, fraud, and abuse in your church or ministry. To find out more, click here.