The Washington Times reports that a public-private trust at the center of former D.C. City Council member Harry Thomas Jr.’s theft scandal granted over $100,000 to companies with no official nonprofit status and to organizations that do not exist in city records.
The D.C. Children & Youth Investment Trust Corp.—to which Thomas allegedly steered public funds during his City Council tenure, raising alarms that led to a federal corruption probe--claimed it granted money only to groups that it had deemed 501(c)(3) nonprofits. However, the Times reports none of the groups that obtained funds from the trust hold official nonprofit status.
Thomas, a Democrat, faces criminal charges for embezzling more than $300,000 in city funds and filing a false tax return.