Black Rip Off Report

SCDAA HDQTRS Never Reported on Use of Santonio Holmes Gift and other donations

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Part 7 of a 10 part series

The Sickle Cell Association of America, Inc headquartered in Baltimore has received donations and contributions to help people with the disease. But a well placed source have said, "most of the money received has never gone to the people with the disease or the member organizations who serve those with the disease."

As an example, as reported by Pop City Media.com, when Steelers star Santonio Holmes discovered that his oldest child, Santonio III, had developed sickle cell anemia, he found the best doctors to treat him. The boy's health soon began improving. But as the months of medical appointments and daily medication wore on, Holmes began thinking about the many Pittsburgh families who struggle with this disease without the same financial resources his family enjoys.

"My seven-year-old is doing a lot better. It is almost to the point of being controllable. He has to take medication every day and probably will for the rest of his life," says Holmes. "I know how expensive the medications and the hospital visits can be so one of our goals in establishing the foundation is to assist families that have been affected by the disease along with helping in the research to find a cure for SCD."

Holmes' fundraising for SCD began after he caught the game-winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII (we're guessing you remember that moment). The gloves he wore in the game were auctioned for $70,200 and all proceeds went to The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. More HERE

Where did the money go? Was there ever a public accounting and were member organizations informed of how the money was spent? Did the money go to the salary of the Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer?

Did the money go towards those who have the disease? Was a scholarship set up in the name Santonio Holmes? Where is the money?

H/T http://www.ventaboutsports.com

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc, has raised millions of dollars in recent years. But for the past two years under the leadership of Duane Bruce, they have not reported where the money goes.

As an example, when Santonio Holmes caught the winning touchdown to win the Superbowl in 2009, he immediately announced that the gloves he wore for the catch would be auctioned off for SCDAA to help people with the disease.

VIDEO: Watch The Report On Santonio's Gloves
VIDEO: Watch The Clip Of "The Tonight Show"

Santonio's young son has the disease.

The gloves were on the Reebok website for two weeks and the bidding came down to two unidentified people bidding at the last minute-the amount raised was around $72,000.

Black Rip Off Report: One has to wonder if Santonio ever received a report on how the money was used - the public sure didn't.

Take a look at the SCDAA website. Do you see a 2008, IRS 990 or state charity financial report? If you do when was it placed on the website. As of today March 22, 2010. No report has been made and no report has been received by the Black Rip Off Report as requested.

Maybe this SCDAA group does not understand Section 6-101(g) specifies the content of the disclosure statement. Each disclosure statement must include:

(1) A statement that a copy of the current financial statement of the charitable organization is available on request;

(2) The name of the charitable organization and the address and telephone number where requests for a copy of the financial statement should be directed; and

(3) A statement that, for the cost of copies and postage, documents and information submitted under the Act are available from the Secretary of State.

I guess they are busy cooking the books at SCDAA. At this point there are serious questions about the ethical conduct by this charitable organization.

Like in the case of the national office of SCLC, It's time time for complaints to be filed and investigations to begin.

Let's see if the SCDAA national board handles this like the SCLC national board did, before the newspapers, radio, and TV stations get a hold of this mess.

The Black Rip of Report will be the first in line, to file a complaint. Join us!

Our next report -----------> A review of SCDAA's attempts to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities, in violation of IRS Regulations.

Keep on checking back to this blog/website. The next three reports will blow your mind! Don't forget to pass these reports on...

***

UPDATE: Black Rip Off Report has been informed by reliable sources that additional citizen complaints have been made against SCDAA with federal agencies and a local state agencies ----> More Later.

Stolen Laptop and Confidential Information at Sickle Cell HDQTRS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:36:00 +0000

Part 6 of a 10 Part Series

As reported in a previous post, the Baltimore headquarters of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America had a number of computers stolen from it's national office, reliable sources indicate one of the computers was used by a number of staffers, including staffers involved in a Federally funded project involving confidential patient and family data.

The computer may have contained names and sensitive health information about sickle cell patients and their families. Reliable sources indicate that sickle cell member organizations, police, HHS, NIH, nor the board of directors were informed that sensitive information could be on the computers.

There is more, the stolen laptop may have had confidential information on sickle cell member organization financial reports and data.

Is no one at SCDAA concerned?
Why were SCDAA Member organizations not alerted?

The Board and it's Executive committee should have asked to see the police report, when it was reported by the CEO to them (if it ever was). It is part of their fiduciary responsibility.

The Black Rip Off Report will be requesting a copy of the report from the city of Baltimore Police Department.

It is clear that the SCDAA Acting CEO and Chairman have failed to establish a strong 'tone at the top,' allowing property management problems to continue even after the first computer was reported stolen.

Reliable sources indicate there was little or no improvement or accountability for lost and stolen property and their was a compromise of sensitive personal and SCDAA financial data.

Our sources indicate former staff members who worked for SCDAA complained to the Acting CEO regarding the breach and thefts, and were ignored.

Black Rip Off Report: It's a shame that we have people dying because they can't get health care and then we get a report like this.

ACORN group and national SCDAA group alike in many ways

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:02:00 +0000

As reported in the Washington Post by Lena H. Sun, the liberal political organizing group ACORN is on the verge of bankruptcy following a string of disclosures about mismanagement that caused funding to dry up, according to a source familiar with the organization.

Leaders of the embattled grass-roots group and their advisers have been discussing options for weeks as donors, including foundations and government entities, have cut back on funding, according to another source, who took part in talks about ACORN's future.

Pablo Eisenberg, a senior fellow at the Georgetown Public and Policy Institute, said ACORN leaders have told him of plans to file for bankruptcy and form a new entity to serve as a public policy link to local and state chapters "without the name of ACORN."

Eisenberg said he was asked to be a board member of the new group but has not been in touch with ACORN's leaders for about six weeks.

The group's plans to possibly file for bankruptcy were first reported in the New York Times

The community organizing group was embarrassed last fall after a video sting that showed ACORN housing counselors advising two young conservative activists -- posing as a pimp and prostitute -- how to conceal their criminal business.

The episode prompted Congress to vote to prohibit the federal government from funding ACORN. The U.S. Census Bureau ended its partnership with the group.

An ACORN spokesman on Saturday declined to comment on possible bankruptcy plans. Communications Director Kevin Whelan released a statement on behalf of ACORN's chief executive, Bertha Lewis:

Black Rip Off Report: The ACORN Association Board is meeting (by phone) this weekend and will be making some very tough decisions about the future of their organization. . . . One has to wonder if there is something in the water in the metro Washington/Baltimore area? Check out the video below based out of Baltimore, Maryland

Our sources report members of the Executive Committee, board members and and member organizations of the nonprofit charity, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America are regularly reviewing this website/blog to gain further information which Board Chairman, Atty Duane Bruce and Acting CEO, Elizabeth Simpson refuse to provide regarding their own mismanagement, and misappropriation of Federal, private, and donated funds.

Duane Bruce

Elizabeth Simpson, Acting CEO/COO

There have been complaints for sometime on these and other issues, but the chairman convinced the national board to "kill the messenger and the message," because this and other messages where sent in what the Chairman considered a crude or politically incorrect manner. OK Mr. chairman, Elizabeth Simpson wont be the first black woman charged with mismanagement and misappropriation on funds. There are many others who have done the same thing.

Like ACORN the SCDAA will be making some very tough decisions about the future of their organization, following a string of disclosures about mismanagement that may cause funding to dry up from Novartis pharmaceuticals, the National Institute of Health and healthcharities.org, all of whom are questioning their relationship with SCDAA at this time.

It's too bad that groups like ACORN, and SCDAA don't address mismanagement, misappropriation of funds when it's reported, before funding dries up. Maybe the should follow the SCLC.

Read more about SCDAA below:
National Office of SCDAA - Sickle Cell Pimps

National Sickle Cell Disease Leaders Under Fire!
- The Shelia Dixon Rip Off - Continue
  - Cover Up at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of...

SCDAA Charity Rip Off

National Office of SCDAA - Sickle Cell Pimps

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Part 5 of a 10 Part Series

For the past few days The Black Rip Off Report has covered the issue of a national organization called The Sickle Cell Disease Association of American (SCDAA) and how they have been acting like Pimps in the Pulpit in relationship to monies raised/donated on behalf of people and organizations that address the sickle cell issue in local communities across America. Please Read: National Sickle Cell Disease Leaders Under Fire!, Cover Up at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and the SCDAA Charity Rip Off.

Today we bring your attention to another example of how, under the lack of leadership of the current SCDAA chairman Duane Bruce and former Treasurer and current Acting CEO, Elizabeth Simpson, there has been no accountability and reporting to member organizations on monies received by the national organization on behalf of its member organizations.

As an example, remember Dale Lloyd II, who died after a conditioning workout in 2006. He was 19. His death was linked to sickle cell trait. Well the NCAA donated $50,000 to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in the name of Dale Lloyd II. The money was donated to help the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America so that they could raise awareness and screen for the trait among athletes. More HERE

A search of the SCDAA website shows no announcement of the SCDAA receiving the money, no announcement of any new program in the name of Dale Lloyd II to raise awareness and screen for the trait among athletes. No scholarship fund in his name, like the people at Rice and other groups have done. - Nothing! This after almost two years.

Sources within SCDAA member organizations say they know nothing about the $50,000 provided to the SCDAA national office, or what was done with the money.

Show Me The Money

The real questions is where is the money? Where is the $50,000. What are the plans for the money, and will member organizations of this national SCDAA group be involved in the planning for the use of the money?

Has the money been spent? Why is a $50,000 public donation not accounted for on the organizations website? For the matter, where is the annual financial reports that should be part of any public group that raises funds from the public? How about those stolen computers?

Now the question is will respected board members of SCDAA such as: Betty Nwabuonwu, Lennette J. Benjamin, M.D., BS, PAHM, dr. Lanetta Jordan, Dr. Winston Price, Richard Burnett, Kirit D. Chapatwala, Ph.D., The Honorable Katie G. Dorsett, A. Kale Evans, Wayne A. Frederick, M.D., FACS, Christopher Hollins, Lawrence I. Hollins, Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, M.D., Jaquel D. Patterson, ND, Rev. LeRoi Simmons, Gary R. Smart, MPA and Steven R. Smith, JD, allow a few board members to defy state of Maryland and Federal public charity reporting requirements?

Or have they joined with Atty Duane Bruce and others to become nothing more than national sickle cell Pimps? Is SCDAA just another group intercepting money intended for sickle cell organizations. Are they using local sickle cell organizations as a commodity?
Maybe the SCDAA Board needs to follow a local SCLC chapter and call for resignations.

The national board of directors of the SCDAA should follow the national SCLC board and issue a resolution calling for the organization's chair and former treasurer turned Acting CEO/COO, to resign.

If they don't it will be clear that the national board, like the SCDAA chair and Acting CEO are just another small-time hustle for people with impressive titles and academic credentials, who likewise milk the larger society, in the name of sickle cell?

National Sickle Cell Disease Leaders Under Fire!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Baltimore, MD - The Board Chairman and Acting CEO of The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) are under fire for what a number of member organizations call a lack of accountability, fiscal irresponsibility and a failure to significantly engage SCDAA (dues paying members) in overall direction of the organization. They are also under fire for excessive spending, along with their continued coverup a $20,000 payment to the American Sickle Cell Disease Association by Novartis that was never accounted for, along with over $100,000 of unaccounted Federal, Novartis and private donations.

Line In The Sand

Part 4 of a updated 10 part series

It appears that a line has been drawn in the sand, with the Chairman and Acting CEO acting with a "bunker" strategy, knowing full well that Federal investigators will be coming shortly to review SCDAA books for misappropriated Novartis, private and federal funds.

The Chairman and Acting CEO are refusing to admit to the fraud, misappropriation , and mismanagement, says a highly placed source.

"They believe they have the support of the board. "You would think the Chairman of SCDAA would know better, why do black folks always need to leave with a bracelet on," said the source.
Another source said, "The bottom line is there is lots of waste, gross mismanagement at SCDAA.

For example, said one source, "A new laptop computer was ordered and walked out of the office, and older laptop walked out of the office and not a sole was held accountable."

No Confidence

One former member organization leader said, "this is one of the reasons why we don't pay dues and are not active members, the board needs to start asking questions regarding the misappropriation of those funds from Novartis and Federal funds, they have a fiduciary responsibility to do it, and keep the membership informed, before the Feds come in.

Reliable sources indicate the organization had close to 100 dues paying member organizations in the past, but has between 30-40 dues paying members now.

Federal Application Fraud

One of our sources told Black Rip Off Report that Chairman Duane Bruce and Acting CEO Elizabeth Simpson willfully and fraudulently applied for Federal support for SCDAA using inflated membership figures. The source went on to say, "they even applied for a grant from Community Health Charities with inflated membership numbers, there is fraud going on throughout the organization." More about this later.
Memos, Memos and more Memos

Reliable sources have provided the Black Rip Off Report with confidential memos from SCDAA member organizations and interested parties expressing deep concern and no confidence in Chairman, Acting CEO and various board members (see attached letter).

In response to concerns expressed regarding his capacity, lack of leadership, failed national conference, and calls for him and others to resign, Atty Duane Bruce, in what some have called a "incoherent email" sent the email to the SCDAA Board which said:

"I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly." Atty Bruce went on to say: "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission."
Lack of Leadership

Black Rip Off Report: Hmmm... Check out the Chairman's words. "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter."

Great leadership Mr. Chairman!

Now we understand why your leadership is being questioned. Misappropriation of over $100,000+ in Novartis and Federal funds is serious business, and it must be addressed. If the board won't the Feds will!

No Confidence

The line is the sand has been drawn by the Chairman of the Board and his board of Directors. It appears that the in-fighting between the member organizations and leadership of the national board will continue.

From all indications the membership of this membership organization has little or no confidence in the leadership of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

Now the question is at what time will the board begin to ask the serious questions of the Chairman and the Acting CEO, which the membership has been asking for some time?

Board Complicity or Board Action?

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America board of directors knows of the serious charges and has failed to retain an independent forensic auditor to investigate the charges made as far back as September and October of 2009. Reports are the membership raised concerns at the national conference regarding financial accountability.

Clearly there needs to be an independent auditor’s investigation to find out who else were complicit in the malfeasance. The lack of oversight and sound financial management at the Sickle Cell organization is troubling. As a public charity, maintaining strong internal controls and keeping pace with changes in regulatory compliance is a big part of the work of any board, chairman or CEO/COO.

The Board should use this discourse as an opportunity to strengthen the organizations accountability by bringing in independent, external experts to assist in conducting a comprehensive review of financial controls and protocols.

The Black Rip Off Report hopes the board will take the recommended action above, or they will be considered just as complicit as the Chairman and CEO in the cover-up.

More on the board of directors, who they are, who they are not, in our next installment.

Meanwhile, read this email from the SCDAA chairman to the Board of Directors back on October 28, 2009. Check out the tone of his email, and his arrogance towards anyone that would question his authority and leadership.

Email to SCDAA Board of Directors from Duane Bruce, Atty at Law

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Bruce, Duane N (HHS/OGC) [mailto:Duane.Bruce@HHS.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:22 PM

To: shirley.miller@childrens.com; rpeterson@utdallas.edu; lhollins@thehollinsgroup.com; David.Braxton@SunTrust.com; bnnwabu@statestreet.com; ljordan@mhs.net; Lbenja2725@aol.com; maryb@scdfc.org; richard-burnett@att.net; SUCHAPPY@AOL.COM; dorsettkatie@yahoo.com; JFowle01@jpshealth.org; xtopherhollins@aol..com; Ohene-Frempong@email.chop.edu; JPatterson@mhhc.org; jpattersonnaacp@gmail.com; cybernma@yahoo.com; LeRoi404@aol.com; Gary.smart@ynhh.org; ssmith@ober.com; SpignerMD@aol.com; dtaylor@marclife.com; dstaylor1@bellsouth.net; whitleyk@email.chop.edu; E Simpson
Cc: Francis Aofolaju; N Thomas; Lawrence Manning; Jeff Motley; Elizabeth Simpson
Subject: Anonymous Letter

As many of you are aware, an anonymous letter (attached) was distributed by U.S. Mail earlier this week to the members of the board of directors, member organizations, and the “SCDAA Family” (The exact list of recipients is unknown.) This letter casts unfounded and spurious allegations against myself, Elizabeth Simpson, Shirley Miller and Rosie Peterson. I take personal offense to this cowardly attack against the leadership of this organization. Not only did the attacker lack the courage of his or her convections to either identify themselves or to approach either the SCDAA leadership or the SCDAA Executive Leadership Council directly with their concerns, but, in addition, the poorly written, shotgun attack against the named individuals and their hard work would be humorous if it were not so distressing. To demean the hard work of myself, Ms. Simpson, Ms. Miller, and Ms. Peterson seeking to elevate the reputation of SCDAA to a place of national prominence and to denigrate our most recent conference as “one of the worst conferences in SCDAA’s history” is irrational, unfounded and unforgivable. Furthermore, to make such an attack without any suggestion of an alternative leadership strategy (as ridiculous as the attack may be) reveals the attack for what it is – an immature, short-sighted attempt to destroy SCDAA and derail its mission.

I ask that the letter not be further redistributed – hence my addition of the watermark to the attached letter. I ask that anyone having any information regarding either the identity of the author of this letter or anyone who can confirm whether anyone OTHER THAN a member organization or board member received this letter please notify me immediately.

I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly.. My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission. Our mission and our work must continue in spite of and above the noise.

Duane N. Bruce
Chair, SCDAA
Duane N. Bruce, J.D., LL.M.
Black Rip Off Report - More later...

Read more on the Sickle Cell Association crisis below:

National Sickle Cell Disease Leaders Under Fire!

Cover Up at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of...

SCDAA Charity Rip Off

The Shelia Dixon Rip Off - Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:09:00 +0000

For the past couple of days we have been talking about corruption in Baltimore, Maryland. We talked about how a group out of Baltimore Maryland called The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America has misappropriated foundation, private donations and federal funds with little Federal, or state charity oversight.

We also talked about how in the city of Baltimore former the queen of ripping off the black poor, Mayor Shelia Dixon, stepped down after a jury convicted her of embezzling gift cards donated to the city for needy families.

Well if you thought we heard the last of the former Mayor - not yet folks! You see... former Baltimore Mayor Shelia Dixon, sent the city of Baltimore tax payers a bill for of $260 for hair styling.

Dixon's stylist submitted invoices for "curling and styling hair" twice in 2008 and once in January, according to the records obtained by The Baltimore Sun. Dixon told the newspaper that she occasionally had her hair styled before taping segments for the city's public access channel and the styling appointments were approved by her former communications director.

Black Rip Off Report: There must be something in the water in Baltimore that causes a Mayor to embezzle money from the needy. That toxic water must have also been consumed by the leaders of the Baltimore based Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

Misappropriation of funds not only hurts an organization, it hurts the people it serves and the community that supports it. Misappropriation of funds is a more common and bigger issue than we may think. In the for-profit sector, it's estimated that 7% of gross revenue is lost to employee fraud (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners report).

(Imagine if we budgeted 7% of our budgets for fraud loss!)

As the publisher of Black Rip Off Report I'm reminded of a story I read in a blog recently:

"I was one of the ones [board members] who wanted to keep [the misappropriation/embezzlement] quiet. I was afraid it would affect donors. But then on one of the conference calls where we were discussing how to deal with it, someone said, 'If someone broke into your house and stole $250,000, wouldn't you report it to the police?' We ended up reporting it, and also issuing a statement about what happened and what we were doing to correct the situation. It was fine." --

Let's hope the Baltimore based sickle cell organization will do the same...

Cover Up at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Earlier this week we reported on how there is national turmoil within black organizations, including charity abuse, misappropriation of funds, poor financial management, and little government oversight over many black organizations.

Part 2 - Cover Up at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America

Earlier this week we reported on a Baltimore Maryland group called The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. We reported on this group, also called SCDAA, and how it has received millions of Federal tax dollars, and millions of dollars from Pharmaceutical interest with little Federal or state charity oversight.

We have been concerned about the sickle cell organization because of how the disease impacts black folks, and how this national organization seems to have failed to inform the general public that sickle cell disease has not been cured. (The publisher of the Black Rip Off Report has sickle cell trait, so this is an important topic to the publisher).

This group has failed to organize as compared to other organizations like, the American Cancer Society, Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, Muscular Dystrophy and so many more. Look at their websites compared to the outdated and old information on the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America website.

It's a shame this national sickle cell organization cannot even put together a information product on Sickle Cell like the one below:

Our sources indicate the groups Acting CEO, Board Chair and board members have discussed our blog post and are in damage control mode. They still are still refusing to provide it's SCDAA membership with audited financial report management letter (which just may outline the misappropriation of funds, poor financial management and other audit concerns). One has to wonder, why all the secrecy from member organizations?

Some are concerned that the "cat is out of the bag," regarding the grant of $20,000 received by the organization in 2008 from Novartis Pharmaceuticals. They are now trying to find a way to explain to their membership how this missing $20,000 is not a misappropriation of funds but rather just poor financial management by the former CEO.

They are also concerned that other financial issues, misappropriation, poor financial management, independent audit findings, including the lack of responding to previous findings by a Federal program audit report will come back to haunt the organization.

Word on the street is the Acting CEO, Elizabeth Simpson and the Chairman of the Board, Atty Duane Bruce are both in maximum cover-up mode regarding the missing $20,000 that was received from Novartis Pharmaceuticals via check in 2008.

Elizabeth Simpson

Duane Bruce

Our sources indicate none of the member organizations where aware Novartis Pharmaceuticals provided $20,000 to SCDAA to update the website in 2008, as an added resource for SCDAA, it's member organizations and the general public.

Our sources indicate Novartis Pharmaceuticals has been concerned about the capacity and staff turnover at the national office of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America for some time.

One Source at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, who requested not to be named, said: "The SCDAA was an organization full of potential many years ago, but has been stagnated by a poorly functioning board, lack of staffing, lack of executive direction, and lack of real and significant membership involvement in decision-making at the national level."

Our contact also said: " Novartis has been interested in funding local SCDAA affiliates for some time, we have asked SCDAA to develop a strategy and program, but they have failed to provide one for the past 9 months." The contact went on to say, "I'm not sure if the board actually engaged the member organizations to let them know of our interest. We know local SCDAA member organizations are in funding crisis, and we wanted to help them out"

The Black Rip Off Report has requested a copy of the groups current financial statement from the Acting CEO, Elizabeth Simpson and the Chairman of the Board, Atty Duane Bruce, Assistant Regional Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Kansas City office.

Here is what we wrote:

ESimpson@sicklecelldisease.org
Duane.Bruce@hhs.gov

As you know under section 6-410 of the Maryland Solicitations Act, a charitable organization must mail within 30 days after receiving a request, a current financial statement at no charge.

The financial statement must contain:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the charitable organization;

(2) The amount of total revenue, the amount of total revenue received from charitable contributions, and the amount and percentage of total revenue spent for the charity's management and general expenses, fund-raising expenses, and program expenses for the most recently completed fiscal year.

We hereby make request for the financial report.

We also request that you provide with within 30 days a copy of an organization's IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ satisfies the financial statement requirement of section 6-410.

Please provide these requested documents as required by Federal and state law. They can be emailed to me via PDF file at: blackripoffreport@gmail.com

Black Rip Off Report

***

Look out for our informative, responsible, hard hitting, Part 3 of our 3 part series, when we receive the financial reports from this group.

They (the American Sickle Cell Disease Association) should hope the Baltimore Sun, LA Times, Washington Post, Raw Story, The Huffington Post and other online news outlets/journals don't get to this story. If any of those news outlets contact the Black Rip Off Report we will assist their efforts to further uncover the charity abuse, misappropriation of funds, and poor financial management at this organization.

We are tired of black folks ripping off blacks!

BREAKING UPDATE: It appears the Obama administration, through one of his Federal agencies, has taken an interest in this story. Citizen Journalism is a wonderful thing. We have not even put this report on blast yet. There are some on the right who would have a field day with this story.

The Black Rip Off Report plans to place this report "on blast" through internet portals such as Twitter, Face Book and other progressive news outlets if this Sickle Cell organization does not provide us some answers to the questions we have raised in our blog post.

Wow! Now we have the Obama administration taking interest in just two days, marvelous.
More later!

Read more on the Sickle Cell Association crisis below:

National Sickle Cell Disease Leaders Under Fire!

SCDAA Charity Rip Off

Rev. Gaston Smith and his Friends of Martin Luther King - Rip Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:29:00 +0000

The South Florida Times is reporting on a theft in the name of GOD. Get this, as reported by Egin Jones – The Rev. Gaston Smith was sentenced to five years probation on Friday, Feb. 26 for stealing county grant funds from his own charity.

Rev. Gaston Smith

During a court hearing on Friday, Smith received the sentence for his third-degree grand theft conviction in December.

“I’m wrong,” Smith told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Beatrice Butchko on Friday. “I’m here with a check today, to pay restitution.”

Smith faced up to a five-year prison term. But he has not had any prior problems with the law, and was sentenced under the state’s first-time offender guidelines.

In addition to the probation, he must also perform 40 hours of community service each month throughout his probationary period.

Smith, 43, pastors Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in the predominantly black Liberty City section of Miami.

He was convicted of pilfering thousands of dollars in county grant funds that were provided to his non-profit Friends of MLK organization. The funds were intended to assist senior citizens and revitalize the area.

The Metro Miami Action Plan Trust gave his organization a $25,000 county grant in 2005. Instead of using the money for its intended purpose, Smith withdrew over $10,000 of the funds from ATMs in Orlando, Houston and Nevada, including $500 at a Las Vegas martini bar.

Black Rip Off Report Thanks Rev. Gaston Smith. Your charity abuse and ripping folks off while spending money gambling in Las Vegas is a disgrace. What a shame, and the rip off impacts the communities you were to serve. Unfortunately it looks like the membership of your church organization supports you at this point, but you should just go ahead a resign from your church ministry. That's a decision you have to make.

The Dorena Kearney Rip Off of Colours, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:10:00 +0000

Michael Hinkelman at the Philadelphia News is reporting on how a former executive director of a city nonprofit that provides AIDS-prevention services to gay and lesbian residents of color was sentenced yesterday to 12 months and a day in federal prison for stealing almost $139,000 from the organization, COLOURS Inc.

Dorena Kearney

Dorena Kearney, 52, of Lindenwold, N.J., was also ordered to make restitution of $138,768 to the city and surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 9. She pleaded guilty last June to one count of theft of federal program funds.

Kearney had faced from 18 to 24 months in prison under advisory sentencing guidelines, but defense attorney Joseph P. Capone asked for leniency, citing a vast array of "ailments" that afflicted Kearney, including hypertension, cerebral vascular disease and chronic back pain.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Barrett argued for a guideline sentence and said Kearney had used the purloined funds in a "very self-indulgent" way.

He said Kerney had spent thousands of dollars in stolen money on fur clothing, cruises to the Caribbean and vacations. (Barrett noted two other expenditures in his sentencing memo: $2,165 for cosmetic surgery and $1,011 for dog training.)

As for Kearney's ailments, Barrett said that they could be adequately addressed by the Bureau of Prisons' medical staff.

Amy Kurland, the city's inspector general, testified that Kearney's theft deprived COLOURS' clients of needed services and "eroded" public confidence in government.

Kearney was charged last April by the U.S. attorney following a joint investigation by the FBI and the city's Inspector General's Office.

Authorities said Kearney opened four credit-card accounts and obtained lines of credit from area banks - some in COLOURS' name - without knowledge of, or approval by, the organization's board of directors. More HERE

Black Rip Off Report: Thanks Dorena Kearney for ripping off people of color! We hope you enjoy your stay in Federal prison.

The Michelle Spence-Jones Rip Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:43:00 +0000

Just hours after Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones surrendered to authorities Thursday on a charge she solicited a bribe from real estate developer Armando Codina, Gov. Charlie Crist reaffirmed her suspension.

Michelle Spence-Jones

Crist released an amended executive order Thursday afternoon that included the bribery charge and another tied to a separate charge that Spence-Jones illegally diverted county grant money to a family business. Both charges are felonies that were part of a grand jury indictment Wednesday.

Crist had suspended Spence-Jones twice since she won election in November based on a grand theft charge from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

Spence-Jones challenged Crist’s authority to suspend her in court, asserting he was undermining the will of the public, which had voted her into office twice since November.

Last week, a circuit court judge hearing Spence-Jones’ challenge of the suspension raised a question as to whether the governor had the authority to suspend Spence-Jones because the grand theft charge had come from prosecutors, not a grand jury. More HERE

The grand jury indictments opened the door to Crist’s amended order and may directly impact the circuit court judge’s ruling on her challenge, which is pending.

Spence-Jones' arraignment has been set for March 18.

The alleged $25,000 bribe was tied to a planned 2006 vote on extending the Brickell Avenue name to Miami's downtown core, according to a grand jury indictment announced Wednesday.

Codina's company, then named Codina Group, and Metropolitan Miami developer MDM Development Group asked city commissioners to extend the Brickell Avenue name from the financial district to Southeast Second Avenue in Miami's downtown core. The Brickell name carries international prestige and, theoretically, might have added to the prestige of the mixed-used Metropolitan Miami, which is north of the Miami River.

Flagler Development Co., which bought Codina's company, is the broker for the MDM project's Met 2 office space, according to Flagler's Web site.

The name change never happened, but the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office said Spence-Jones solicited $25,000 for a charity event and "deposited those funds into an account" well after the event happened. Half the money allegedly came from Codina, who was described by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle as feeling victimized, and the other half came from a hotel associated with MDM partner Ricardo Glas.

“This matter is under active investigation by the State Attorney’s office and, as the victim, they have asked us not to comment,” Codina spokesman Bruce Rubin said in a statement.

Spence-Jones told The Miami Herald she did not solicit a bribe and questioned the timing of the indictment, given recent efforts to keep her suspended for other alleged misdeeds.

Glas could not be reached for comment. More HERE

Thanks Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones for ripping us off by illegally diverting county grant money to your family business!

SCDAA Charity Rip Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:29:00 +0000

Part 1 of a 10 part Series

Speaking of national black organizational turmoil, charity abuse, misappropriation of funds, poor financial management, and little government oversight of black organizations. How about the group out of Baltimore Maryland called The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. They have received millions of Federal tax dollars, and millions of dollars from Pharmaceutical interest with little Federal, or state charity oversight.

Welcome to the city of Baltimore! Home of former Mayor Shelia Dixon who also ripped off the poor, using debit cards for her own use. It appears that the former Mayor and this group have something in common - ripping off people in need...

Word on the street is the group was recently under fire by their dwindling membership at their last annual meeting in Florida for failing to provide annual accounting of monies received and expended. Federal auditors have previously made serious findings in previous Federal grant audits.

One of the many items under contention is a grant of $20,000 provided in 2008 to make major revisions to its national website. The funds received from a grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals were suppose to go towards a redesign of their website. The money was misappropriated and the organization never provided an accounting for the money to the state charity organization, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, or its membership organizations.

The website remains the same, while member organizations complain about the sites outdated look, feel and dated content.

Elizabeth Simpson

Duane Bruce

It appears Maryland charity and federal agencies may be investigating for possible misappropriation of funds and a cover-up by the current Chair, Duane N. Bruce, and acting CEO Elizabeth B. Simpson .

Reliable sources indicate key staff were recently let go because they knew too much. There appears to be serious ethical breaches that charity executives may be attempting to cover up. A number of the shrinking membership organizations have asked for the acting CEO and board chair to resign. There have been complaints that the group is no longer relevant and has failed to bring sickle cell disease to national attention.

Reliable sources also indicate the entrenched and constant recycling leadership on the national board of directors have allowed the charitable organization to pay excessive cost for the acting CEO to travel back-and-forth from her home in north or South Carolina to SCDAA offices in Baltimore every week. These reliable sources also indicate membership organizations who pay dues, are paying for the high cost of the CEO travels, out of their dues, and contributions from donors. Many of the donations were air marked for direct services for those with sickle cell disease, not for the high end salary of a former board member of SCDAA - turned acting CEO.

Reliable sources indicate the acting CEO receives payments of up to $10,000 -15,000 per month part-time, 3 day a week salary, along with limo service, breakfast, lunch and dinner, hotel expenses and other excessive cost. Reports are the acting CEO works part-time with SCDAA drawing down and billing longer hours with little or no oversight.

It appears the acting CEO has been spending thousands of dollars per month on air travel, while holding down her consulting business through the use of time paid by SCDAA to complete task on her consulting company.

Our sources indicate the acting CEO-COO and Chairman of the Board have refused to release full certified public accountant audit findings to it's member organizations. More on this, in our three part series regarding this national organization later.

It appears SCLC and SCDAA have something in common. No one was monitoring the money given to SCLC or for that matter SCDAA - until now!

Reports are a number of member organizations for this national organization are considering filing formal inquires with the Office of the Inspector General to call for a federal Investigation of the organizations financial operations and accounting practices.

The Black Rip Off Report agrees with The American Institute of Philanthropy, when they wrote:

"Too many nonprofit governing boards are not taking their positions seriously and shirking their oversight responsibilities. The American Institute of Philanthropy is calling on all nonprofit board members who are more focused on social or networking opportunities for themselves than on overseeing and governing their organization to resign." Read More Here

Black Rip Off Report: Thanks national headquarters of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Your charity abuse and ripping folks with sickle cell disease off is a national disgrace. What a shame, and the rip off impacts all sickle cell organizations throughout the U.S.

Maybe the membership of this organization should call for the board members, who appear to be more focused on social or networking opportunities, to resign.

Read part 2 of our 10 part series HERE

SCLC Rip Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:48:00 +0000

ATLANTA — As reported by Associated Press, four months after Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter was elected president of the civil rights group he co-founded, the organization is in a tailspin and she is silent on why she hasn't taken the helm.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference has been fractured by infighting and a federal investigation. Agents recently raided the Ohio chapter's headquarters and the home of the SCLC's national chairman, who faces accusations of financial mismanagement. In Georgia, Fulton County prosecutors have also launched a formal investigation into the Atlanta-based organization's financial affairs.

Through it all, the Rev. Bernice King — who was elected SCLC president Oct. 29 — has said nothing. She has yet to take over, and the interim president she is replacing has already left.

With no one to speak on the group's behalf, observers say the long-declining SCLC is weaker than ever.

"J. Edgar Hoover is in his grave, shouting and celebrating," said Tyrone Brooks, a Georgia state representative and longtime SCLC member, invoking the name of the FBI director who kept tabs on the SCLC for years. "The organization he tried to destroy is now being destroyed by the very people who claim to love it and love the legacy of Dr. King."

Amid the turmoil, the management functions continue to limp along. Read More HERE

Thanks SCLC Board for Ripping Us off!

The Monica Conyers Rip Off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Detriot - Monica Conyers Sentenced to 37 months in prison

No Class, Monica Conyers who would rather debate school children and stuff money in her pockets is going to jail.

In November 2007 Conyers cast the decisive vote in favor of granting a $1.2 billion waste disposal contract to Texas-based firm Synagro Technologies, Inc. (Synagro). The guilty plea offered by Conyers confirms FBI suspicions that she switched from a “no” to a “yes” vote only after receiving at least $6,000 in bribes from Synagro.

Monica Conyers' booking photo. (U.S. Marshal's Service)

Conyers resigned amid pressure from several city council colleagues and Attorney General Mike Cox. Cox had indicated, prior to Conyers’s willful resignation, that he would pursue all legal means in his power to have Conyers forcibly removed from office.

Conspicuously quiet on the issue of Conyers’s resignation was Mayor David Bing. Although he did publicly describe Conyers’ conviction as “unfortunate,” Bing did not call for Conyers to step down.

Federal prosecutors pressed for a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Conyers’s attorney, Steve Fishman, says the prosecution’s case is based on an erroneous “benefit-value” of $1.2 billion, the sum of the contract awarded to Synagro as a result of the bribe. Read More HERE

Ken Cockrel Jr. quick to call for Monica Conyers' resignation

Feds investigating Monica Conyers tie to $40,000 jewelry bribe, Detroit developer

BRO Report says: We agree with a reader at the Detroit Free Press Civil Rights Heroes Didn't Dream This!

Thanks Monica Conyers for the Big Black Political Rip Off!