Former Portland Fitness Trainer Pleads Guilty After Using Charity Donations to Fund Drug Habit
Ryan Tong, a former Orangetheory Fitness coach, pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges for diverting at least $24,000 in charitable donations for his personal use in the Multnomah County Circuit Court yesterday.
Ex-Orangetheory Trainer Pleads Guilty To Diverting Donations
The Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) indicated that, as part of the scheme between 2021 and 2024, Tong told people their workout donations would go to charities and be matched by major companies, but the money was sent to his personal Venmo account and never reached the charities. Assistant Attorney General Heather Weigler said, “Mr. Tong abused that trust for his personal gain.”
Tong abused the trust of donors, leading them to believe their money would go to causes they cared about. In reality, he was using the money to fuel his cocaine habit. Tong pleaded guilty to:
- Theft in the First Degree by Deception
- Computer Crime Fraud
- Aggravated Theft in the First Degree
Eric Pickard, Deputy District Attorney with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, said the primary purpose of this case is to put charities back in the same position they would be in had Tong not stolen the money.
His sentence will require restitution, and ODOJ suggests that Tong be assigned to a work crew until he repays the more than $24,000 investigators could account for.
Tong’s sentencing is set for February 6th in Multnomah County Circuit Court, and ODOJ is pursuing civil claims against Tong to prevent his future involvement in Oregon’s charitable sector.
ODOJ and the DA’s office warned consumers that it should be a red flag to consumers if they’re asked to make charitable donations through someone’s personal Venmo account.
Before you donate, these are the fast checks regulators recommend.
| Red flag | Safer move |
|---|---|
| Pay to a person / personal Venmo | Pay the organization directly using its official giving method |
| Pressure to donate right now | Ask for written info and donate later after verifying |
| Charity not registered in Oregon | Check Oregon DOJ charity registration first |
| Looks like an invoice or “you pledged” claim | Treat it as optional and verify before paying anything |
| Cash / wire / runner pickup request | Use check or other secure payment made out to the charity |
| Name or logo looks like a well known charity | Call the charity using a number you find independently |
Increase In Number Of Fraudulent Charitable Schemes In Oregon
Oregon’s Charitable Activities Section has been investigating an increasing number of charity fraud schemes in the state.
Dozens of complaints are received annually, and ODOF has recovered millions in misused donations through enforcement actions against fraudulent organizations and individuals.
The Charitable Activities Section oversees charitable organizations and enforces laws related to nonprofit gaming, including issuing licenses for bingo, raffles, and other fundraising events involving gambling.
The Section can take civil legal actions against organizations that misuse charitable assets or engage in misleading solicitations.
The Section learns of potential matters from whistleblower complaints and media reports. It can take civil legal actions for misuse or misleading solicitations.
In one such investigation, ODOJ prosecutes Kars-R-Us.com and its operators, who raised millions supposedly for breast cancer screening, but only a fraction of donations went to fund the screenings. Kars raised more than $45.5 million, but just $126,815 (0.28%) went to screenings.
Source: Oregon DOJ media release Sep 25, 2025 / FTC press release Sep 25, 2025
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In the Kars case, a settlement order including a $3,882,091 monetary judgment was proposed, with a recommendation that Kars and its operators be restricted in future fundraising activities and that Michael Irwin, Kars’s President and co-owner until 2022, be permanently barred from fundraising.