The report .pdf
https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2019/g9019004.pdf#page=2
Results in Brief
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded that
LIFT3 engaged in fraudulent and suspicious activities
using grant funds. Specifically, we found that LIFT3’s
Executive Director and family (mother, three sisters,
nephew, son, and niece) filled key management and
financial positions and other roles in the organization.
The LIFT3 Executive Director and family used LIFT3’s
funding to pay for personal items such as handbags,
gasoline, groceries, clothing, and trips to Las Vegas,
Nevada. Further, LIFT3 consistently transferred funds to
other family-owned businesses and to family member
bank accounts. We also found that LIFT3 had an
unusual number of cash transactions totaling $255,998
and limited documentation for the use of this cash.
The OIG Audit Division referred these findings to the
OIG Investigations Division, at which time this audit
was placed on hold. As a result of the OIG’s audit and
investigation, the Executive Director pled guilty to theft
of public funds and falsifying records in a federal
investigation. On April 11, 2019, the Executive Director
was sentenced to 6 months in prison and ordered to
pay $71,423 in restitution. OVW has deobligated the
remaining $237,135 in funds not drawn down, and
LIFT3 and its Executive Director presently are
suspended from contracting with or receiving grants
from the Federal Government, and as of July 2019 are
proposed for debarment. Because of the court action,
as well as LIFT3’s suspension and proposed debarment,
and its cessation of operations, this report is issued
closed
Who are these people:
“...LIFT3s Executive Director and family (mother, three sisters,
nephew, son, and niece)...”