It would appear as though this environmental group was embezzling grant money.
Santa Fe, NM – Yesterday WildEarth Guardians transmitted to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Albuquerque a forensic auditor’s report which found evidence that the organization’s former restoration program director colluded with an outside contractor to overbill the state and federal grants the organization receives to restore rivers and streams. WildEarth Guardians informed the U.S. Attorney’s office of the scheme last week and has asked the auditors to cooperate in the forthcoming criminal investigation. The audit, completed by the McHard Firm of Albuquerque, found that WildEarth Guardians’ former staff member “participated in a felony fraud scheme with [a] WildEarth Guardians vendor” to steal a significant amount of money.
WildEarth Guardians learned of the embezzlement scheme on April 2nd through an anonymous informant’s lawyers. The informant had learned that the former director colluded with a contractor to embezzle money from the state and federal grants WildEarth Guardians receives to do restoration work. As a result of that tip, the next day our board hired the McHard Firm of Albuquerque to conduct an investigation into the serious allegations. Two weeks later WildEarth Guardians had enough evidence to determine the allegations were true and terminated the relationships with the staffer and outside contractor. Over the last few weeks WildEarth Guardians informed all of the state and federal agencies with whom it partners about the embezzlement. WildEarth Guardians is currently working with the appropriate federal and state authorities to hold the two individuals accountable for their actions. In response, WildEarth Guardians’ Executive Director John Horning issued the following statement:
For the complete article, click here: