BALTIMORE, Md. – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Secretary of State Susan C. Lee announced the permanent closure of two deceptive nonprofits, Maryland Youth Club of America, Inc. and Virginia Youth Club of America, Inc., along with a permanent ban on their founder, Jule Huston, and other officers and directors from operating charities or soliciting charitable contributions in Maryland. The action stems from a joint multistate investigation revealing that the organizations used school-age children to sell candy door-to-door under false pretenses while diverting funds for personal use.
The settlements, finalized in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, conclude allegations that Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club misrepresented their operations to donors and participants. The groups claimed proceeds from candy sales would fund scholarships, trips, enrichment activities, and other support for at-risk youth. Instead, investigators found that the adults behind the organizations misused the money, with significant portions unaccounted for or directed to personal expenses.
Maryland Youth Club, incorporated and tax-exempt in Maryland, and Virginia Youth Club, incorporated in Virginia, were both registered to solicit charitable contributions in Maryland. Jule Huston, a New York resident, served as president of both entities. The organizations recruited middle-school and high-school students, transported them to neighborhoods in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and instructed them to tell buyers that purchases supported youth programs aimed at rescuing teens from difficult circumstances.
A joint probe by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, the Maryland Secretary of State, the Virginia Attorney General, and the District of Columbia Attorney General uncovered evidence of multiple violations. The organizations collected more than $857,000 in gross sales by promising child sellers part-time jobs, weekly cash payments, free trips, activities, and prizes. However, authorities determined that children were not consistently paid, nor did they receive the promised benefits in many cases.
Investigators alleged that the groups misled the public by claiming candy purchases aided at-risk youth when funds supported private interests. Between 2022 and 2023, Huston transferred more than $23,000 from Maryland Youth Club’s bank account to his personal CashApp account, to his mother, to a New York corporation he established, and to an officer of Virginia Youth Club. Maryland Youth Club also recorded substantial expenses in New York, including purchases at gas stations, Petco, AutoZone, Walmart, and other retailers. A large share of the collected funds remains unaccounted for.
The investigation further determined that Huston intentionally destroyed financial records for Maryland Youth Club covering 2020 through 2023.
The settlement requires Maryland Youth Club and Virginia Youth Club to dissolve permanently. The organizations ceased operations during the probe, and Huston must complete formal dissolution in Maryland and Virginia, providing documentation to Maryland authorities. Huston and other directors and officers face a permanent ban in Maryland from soliciting charitable contributions, operating nonprofits, serving in roles involving charitable funds, or acting as consultants or advisors to such organizations. Huston faces equivalent restrictions in Virginia and the District of Columbia from prior settlements.
The parties must pay $5,000, which will be redirected to nonprofits serving at-risk youth in the region.
This case follows a related enforcement action against DMV Futures, Inc., a Maryland organization that received a cease-and-desist order from Secretary Lee in May of the previous year. DMV Futures lost its appeal in October 2025 and is permanently barred from soliciting charitable contributions in Maryland. Authorities noted operational similarities among the groups.
Attorney General Brown stated, “These adults exploited children twice—first by sending them door-to-door as salespeople, then by misusing the money donors thought would help at-risk youth. We’ve shut down these sham operations and banned the people behind them from ever running a charity in Maryland again.”
Secretary Lee added, “Our office strongly opposes deceptive charitable practices and will take decisive action to ensure the integrity and health of the nonprofit sector and to protect generous Marylanders. We are committed to keeping bad actors out of the nonprofit world and upholding Maryland’s charity laws.”
The enforcement underscores ongoing efforts by Maryland officials to safeguard charitable giving and prevent exploitation in youth-focused solicitations. The settlement agreement resolves violations of the Maryland Solicitations Act.
This development affects charitable operations across the DMV region, where similar candy-sale schemes have drawn scrutiny. No further details on additional penalties or restitution beyond the $5,000 payment were specified.