$$-RAISE CHAPTERS FLOUT LAW

The Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network has 36 chapters across the country but has mostly failed to register in states that require nonprofits to file public records, The Post has learned.

Only two chapters, those in Washington state and Nevada, have registered with the appropriate agency.

NAN chapters in Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Illinois solicit donations, according to their Web sites or representatives - but neither the chapters nor their New York-based parent are registered to do so in those states.

"Anyone soliciting donations in Illinois must register. An organization may be in violation. Our goal would be to bring them into compliance," said Illinois AG spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler.

In Florida, a charity must register no matter how much it raises. In Georgia, charities that raise less than $25,000 are not required to register.

Victoria Bjorklund, a Manhattan lawyer who represents charities nationwide, said a state can bar a charity from fund-raising until the charities register. The charities may also be forced to submit records going back years. Experts say the public records assure a charity's openness and accountability.

NAN's failure to file paperwork regarding its regional chapters comes as Sharpton and his nonprofit are under increased IRS scrutiny and a grand-jury investigation by the US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn.

Last week, the feds slapped subpoenas on Anheuser-Busch and other corporations seeking information on donations they gave NAN. In its last public tax filing in 2006, NAN did not specify any chapter activity or fund-raising, nor detail how its spends its money.

The news of the subpoenas surfaced after The Post reported last Sunday that some companies gave money or hired Sharpton as a consultant as he threatened boycotts over their treatment of African-Americans.

Michael Hardy, NAN's general counsel, told The Post on Friday he will investigate whether the nonprofit or any of its chapters have broken state charity laws. "We are not aware of any chapter that is not in compliance with local law," he said.

NAN's Chicago chapter was launched by Sharpton last August. He named Jeri Wright, the daughter of Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, president of the local group. US Cellular, a major Midwest communications firm, said it "sponsored a table at a corporate reception" for the chapter, giving $5,000, a spokeswoman said.

Jeri Wright, 42, left the post without explanation, The Post learned, although NAN still lists her as chapter president.

In an e-mail, the chapter - which is unregistered - directed inquiries to NAN's Web site. "You may also mail a check or money order for $35," the e-mail said.

The nine-month-old Boston chapter, which is not registered in Massachusetts despite state rules that fund-raising charities register, is required to send "a percentage of each donation" to NAN's New York office, said chapter president B.J. Smith, adding that his hasn't gone after big corporate donors yet

Caree Eason, the president of NAN's Detroit chapter, also unregistered, would not discuss finances or the state law.

Michigan mandates notification by any charity that solicits donations, but does not require financial reports if less than $8,000 is raised.

NAN's Philadelphia president, Sultan Ashley Shah, said the nine-month-old chapter raises money from individuals, corporations and unions. He insisted the chapter is registered, but The Post found no registration in Pennsylvania, which requires nonprofits to register if they raise $25,000 or more.

Larry Young, president of Baltimore's NAN since 2001, said the chapter raises money to attend NAN events. The group is not registered in Maryland, which requires nonprofits to register.

The Las Vegas NAN chapter solicits donations up to $5,000 on its Web site, and has kicked off a $1 million drive. In 2004, the Las Vegas chapter filed a federal tax return showing revenues of $34,575. It's the only NAN chapter that has filed a separate tax return.

NAN's Phoenix chapter filed to register in January 2007, but last November the state disqualified it for failing to publish its articles of incorporation in a local newspaper.

Chapter president Jarrett Maupin, 21, said the $25,000 to $40,000 raised when he launched the group in 2003 came mostly out of his own pocket.

Maupin said the chapter raised about $5,000 last year from individuals. NAN bylaws require the chapter to send $15 of every $25 in membership dues to New York, but Maupin said he doesn't demand fees to join.

susan.edelman@nypost.com

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