If you were passing through Patton and Louisiana Avenues today you probably saw them. Men in yellow vests with buckets saying “help the homeless, New Life Church.” Lots of people gave them money, some even pulled into the KFC or K-Mart parking lot to chat and give.

Who does not like to help those less fortunate? We all do what we can, right?

“The Asheville Police Department received a number of calls about this situation,” said Sgt. Scott Lunsford of the West District, “They have a permit and have to keep out of traffic.” The permit is issued to a church from Louisville, KY called The New Life Church of Louisville, Inc., the pastor and CEO is listed as Cary Keith Fulks. The church (and his previous church in Fla.) has a long history of suspicious activity around fundraising. Police in Louisville, Tampa, Fla., NYC, and McAllen, Tx. have all investigated complaints from citizens about activities of the churches in the past. Federal charges led to convictions on a variety of charges in the 1990′s, including Mr. Fulks.