Indictment: Congressman Took $1 Million From Charities

by Gary Snyder

Rep. Tyrone Brooks (GA) misappropriated funds from Universal Humanities, a charity he founded in 1990, and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials. An indictment charges that from the mid-1990s through 2012, Brooks solicited contributions from donors to combat illiteracy and fund other charitable causes. 

Brooks then used about $1 million to pay personal expenses for himself and his family. "Mr. Brooks exploited two charitable organizations for his own personal financial gain which came at the expense of the intended beneficiaries of the charitable donations," said Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation. "IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to investigating individuals who use charitable organizations for their personal gain. 

Mr. Brooks defrauded not only the donors, but also the American taxpayer by evading his tax obligations. Tax compliance should and must be equally shared among all Americans."(source)

Nonprofit Imperative gathers its information principally from public documents...some of which are directly quoted. Virtually all cited are in some phase of criminal proceedings; some have not been charged, however. Cites in various media: Featured in print, broadcast, and online media outlets, including: Vermont Public Radio, Miami Herald, National Public Radio, Huffington Post, The Sun News, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Wall Street Journal (Profile, News and Photos), FOX2, ABC Spotlight on the News, WWJ Radio, Ethics World, Aspen Philanthropy Newsletter, Harvard Business Review, Current Affairs, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, St. Petersburg Times, B, USA Today Topics, Newsweek.com, Responsive Philanthropy Magazine, New York Times...and many more Nonprofits: On the Brink (2006) Silence: The Impending Threat to the Charitable Sector (2011)