An anti-police activist misused greater than $75,000 in donations to pay for a lavish Cancun trip and a number of other purchasing sprees and stiffed his sole worker out of “tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in earned wages,” the legal professional basic for Washington, DC, alleged on Monday.
DC Legal professional Normal Brian Schwalb sued Brandon Anderson and his “police transparency and accountability” nonprofit group, Raheem AI, for allegedly violating the District’s staff’ rights and charity group legal guidelines, claiming that the “Defund the Police” backer used charitable funds “to assist his luxurious life-style.”
“Brandon Anderson misused charitable donations to fund lavish holidays and purchasing sprees, and the Raheem AI Board of Administrators let him get away with it,” Schwalb stated in a press release.
“Not solely did their monetary abuses violate elementary rules of nonprofit governance, however Anderson and Raheem AI didn’t pay their worker the wages they’d earned,” the legal professional basic added. “My workplace won’t permit individuals to masquerade behind noble causes whereas violating the legislation, dishonest taxpayers, or stealing from their staff.”
Anderson, a self-described advocate for police abolition, based Raheem AI in 2017 with the objective of equipping “black, brown, and indigenous group disaster responders with the instruments, coaching, connections, and funding they should present care.”
Raheem AI sought to create an emergency dispatch app that might permit individuals cautious of police to bypass calling 911 throughout a time of disaster.
Anderson’s nonprofit obtained greater than $4.3 million in donations earlier than its app challenge “fizzed,” in accordance with the New York Occasions.
Jasmine Banks, a former Raheem AI staffer, instructed the outlet in August that she found bank card information detailing Anderson’s lavish spending after the nonprofit stopped paying her wage.
Schwalb alleges that since 2021, Anderson has raided Raheem AI’s coffers for private use.
The criticism in opposition to Anderson and Raheem AI particulars over $40,000 in spending on mansion and penthouse condominium leases, $10,000 on private journey, together with a visit to a Cancun resort, a $10,000 “govt Director clothes allowance” used on purchases from luxurious retailers comparable to Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Bloomingdales, Farfetch and Saks and $5,000 on emergency veterinary providers.
The lawsuit additionally alleges that Anderson and Raheem AI violated the District’s Nonprofit Company Act, Wage Cost and Assortment Regulation and Ban on Noncompete Agreements Act.
Raheem AI has not had a treasurer since 2020, in accordance with the criticism, “giving Anderson unrestricted management of its funds.”
“The Board of Administrators additionally didn’t implement any measures to supervise the group’s funds, together with Anderson’s corruption,” in accordance Schwalb.
Raheem AI has additionally not paid Banks “tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in earned wages” since April, when she knowledgeable the nonprofit’s board of administrators about Anderson’s probably unlawful conduct, in accordance with the DC AG.
The lawsuit notes that Banks was additionally allegedly compelled to signal an “unlawful” noncompete clause as a part of the phrases of her employment.
“It hurts my coronary heart to say it, however I feel it was a con from the start,” Banks instructed the New York Occasions in August about Raheem AI and Anderson.
Anderson didn’t reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
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