NEWARK - A settlement has been reached after a Newark man allegedly misrepresented a cancer diagnosis to get charitable donations, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

The agency on Monday afternoon reported John Looker, of Newark, sought charitable contributions to and for Pelotonia, a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual three-day bike tour to raise money for cancer research, between 2009 and Aug. 5, 2018. Officials say Looker acted under the "false pretense that he had been diagnosed with and treated for multiple forms of cancer," according to a press release.

In May 2016, the agency said Looker hosted an annual yard sale, claiming all the proceeds would to to Pelotonia, however, none of the proceeds were donated as he promised.

In October 2017, the office said Looker claimed all proceeds from sales of homemade cookies would go to the Dave VanWassenhove Memorial Scholarship at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, but didn't donate proceeds from those sales either.

The Ohio Attorney General's Office reported Looker agreed to pay $1,800 in restitution and a $2,000 civil fine. Looker also agreed not to hold an position with a charitable organization in Ohio, with the exception being he can serve as a volunteer who isn't involved with charitable trust money. The agency said Looker agreed he won't participate in any charitable solicitations in Ohio.

"This isn't the crime of the century - but charity and deceit don't mix," Yost said in a prepared statement. "Hopefully the two organizations can now move forward in advancing their respective missions without having this hanging over their heads."

According to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the investigation stemmed from a couple of public comments made in August 2018 and April 2019.