Details Emerge of Expanded Probe into Thomas

Two additional grants totaling $832,000 are investigated

The probe into possible corruption by Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. has widened. According to Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) attorney advisor Jamarj Johnson, authorities are now examining funds associated with two additional grants issued by DPR in 2008. The additional funds in question total $832,000.

The grants were inserted as earmarks in a 2008 supplemental spending bill approved by the D.C. Council.

Mr. Johnson attempted to withhold documents about the two grants from Brookland Heartbeat, stating that the documents “are now potential evidence in an ongoing investigation.” Mr. Johnson said that documents associated with the two grants “are relevant to an ongoing U.S. Attorney investigation into activities conducted by Council Member Harry Thomas and related entities.”

Mayor Vincent Gray’s general counsel ordered the documents released.

One of the additional grants under investigation is a $560,000 grant given by DPR to the Children’s Youth Investment Trust Corporation (CYITC) in the summer of 2008. A memorandum of agreement between DPR and CYITC stated that CYITC would disburse the funds to six community-based organizations “to fund programs to support Councilmember Harry Thomas’ Ward 5 Initiative.”

However, according to Jamarj Johnson, DPR has no record of what organizations received the $560,000 or what the funds were used for. CYITC president Ellen London refused to say who received the funds, citing the “ongoing federal investigation.”

The second additional grant under investigation is a $272,000 grant given by DPR in 2008 to fund a “Ward 5 gang-intervention initiative.” According to Mr. Johnson, DPR has no record of who received the $272,000 grant. The only document DPR was able to locate about the grant was a one-page expense report. The expenses included $23,000 to Six Flags amusement park, $12,000 to American Multi Cinema, $8,500 to the Washington Nationals, and $550 to Crofton Go Kart Raceway.

Mr. Johnson said the expense report was prepared by DPR’s chief financial officer, but DPR has no receipts or supporting documentation to justify the expenses or prove who incurred them.

Brookland Heartbeat interviewed half a dozen community leaders who work with children in Ward 5 and none of them had heard of local children being taken on outings to Six Flags, to the movies, to baseball games, or go kart racing.

Mr. Johnson said DPR would continue to look for additional documents about the two grants.

To date, public announcements about the investigation into Mr. Thomas have been limited to the alleged misappropriation of a single grant in 2008: a $400,000 grant awarded by DPR to the Langston 21st Century Foundation for “youth baseball programs.”

In June, Attorney General Irvin Nathan alleged that Mr. Thomas stole more than $300,000 out of the $400,000 grant.

Mr. Nathan said bank records showed that the Langston 21st Century Foundation funneled more than $300,000 to Mr. Thomas by paying $108,000 to Mr. Thomas’ defunct non-profit called Team Thomas and $208,000 to a business called HLT Development which is owned by Mr. Thomas and his wife, Diane Thomas.

Mr. Nathan said bank records showed that Mr. Thomas used the money for non-charitable purposes, such as luxury golf trips and buying himself a $60,000 Audi SUV.

Mr. Nathan further alleged that staff from Mr. Thomas’ council office submitted false expense reports for the grants. Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Neil Rodgers, then a senior member of Thomas’ staff, submitted the reports. Mr. Rodgers has retained the services of well-known attorney A. Scott Bolden, who told the Washington Post that Mr. Rodgers is cooperating with authorities.

Mr. Thomas negotiated a settlement with the District in July, in which he agreed to repay the $300,000 but admit no wrongdoing in exchange for the District dismissing the civil charges against him. The directors of the Langston 21st Century Foundation, James Garvin and Marshall Banks, agreed to repay $86,000 and to cooperate in the case against Mr. Thomas.

At this stage, it is unknown what organizations received funds from the two additional grants totaling $832,000 and whether those organizations are suspected of funneling money to Mr. Thomas.

Bill Miller, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, would not say if or when criminal charges will be filed against Mr. Thomas. “We typically don’t confirm or deny investigations,” said Mr. Miller.

Mr. Thomas referred questions about the two additional grants to his lawyers, who did not respond.