If "Ed" said he was collecting money for Toys for Tots, he was defrauding people. No matter how he used the money, he wasn't buying toys. I can't imagine why anyone would give money for this program, after all it is not called Cash for Tots!!! I have never seen a Marine collecting cash although I have seen them collecting toys. Didn't this wave a red flag to anyone that he asked for a donation? How many years has he been doing this before someone finally caught on to him? One final thing God Bless our service men and women.

I know Ed. What is his side of the story? Did he have all the money that he collected? Was he getting ready to turn it over to Toys for Tots or any charity? Ed was a good guy. He always went around visiting friends and family as "Santa" and passed out candy canes. I even had a picture of my son sitting on his lap as "Santa" years ago. Did Ed use the money to buy the candy canes that he would pass out all over town? I might have ment well but went around it the wrong way. I am saddend by this.

Like jnln, I have known this man and his family for many years and I can confirm that he is definitely not in the evil category by any stretch of the imagination. I am however, shocked and terribly disappointed in his actions, but I am unfortunately no stranger to having someone you trust do something illegal for no apparent reason. Forgiveness is a difficult thing as is acceptance of another's flaws and weaknesses. It is easy to judge when you have never had someone close to you disappoint you in this manner. So please, be upset and angry at his actions, but be careful how harshly you judge him.

Sorry, jnln....in MY book, crooks and thieves ARE evil people. What really concerns me, though, is this - Seeing how he was confident enough to steal money under the guise of "representing local churches", it scares me to even think of the confidence he might have had while hidden beneath that Santa suit! No, jnln, he wasn't "desperate"...he just got caught!

Build more prisons.

I've known this man for years, Evil Santa Not. Ed has always helped others he spent his time at Christmas as Santa going to area Church Christmas Partys and Local Hospitals. I have no idea what reason he had to defraud people maybe he was desprate. Although I do not condone what he did. I need to have more facts before I judge him as evil.

I apologize - I just took for granted that anyone in a position of collecting monies for charities, etc., would be provided with some type of ID before collecting money from people. I think IDs are a good idea, too, but when you think about it, they'd probably just print out their own IDs to suit their own purposes.

ID? Apparently, he did not lie about what his name was so what good would ID have done? Toys for Tots do not have employee ID cards; although, I do not think that would be a bad idea. It is a shame that someone would take an organization as wonderful as Toys for Tots (started and supported by another GREAT --- the Marines) and deceive people like this! I am not shocked, I am just angry!!!

Why would anybody even think about giving this guy money, He looks like an "Evil Santa Claus".

Did anyone ever think to ask for some type of I.D. from this fool??