Obama Fundraiser Confesses To Misusing $600k in Federal Grants for Poor Youth

From 2007 to 2012, Howard Slingerland raised almost $750,000 for Obama

Barack Obama’s former top fundraiser admitted to misuse of more than $600,000. He also embezzled tens of thousands from a nonprofit that assists impoverished youth, Justice Department. announced Tuesday.

Howard Dixon Slingerland is who raised nearly $750,000 for both of Obama’s presidential campaigns, illegally took federal grant money to pay off more than $600,000 of his organization’s payroll and credit card debts, which included personal expenses. Court filings reveal that the grant of $1.5million was intended to give career opportunities to young adults who had gone through the criminal justice process.

Slingerland also admitted that he underreported $450,000 of income and owed nearly $150,000 back taxes. He also admitted that he took tens to thousands of dollars from his non-profit to pay his property taxes, fund tutors for his kids, and a dinner at a Michelin star restaurant.

Slingerland pleaded guilty one count misapplication of funds, and one count lying on his tax returns. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 13 years in federal jail.

The abuse of funds charges against the disgraced leader in a nonprofit are not new to him. In 2014, Slingerland’s nonprofit, the Youth Policy Institute, failed to disclose $140,000 it spent lobbying Obama’s White House and federal agencies for grant funding—potentially violating federal lobbying laws.

Slingerland’s attorney stated that he “takes responsibility for the mistakes he made,” He cited his misapplication of funds, and failures to report income.

Slingerland spent more than $14,000 on his nonprofit from 2015 to 2019. He also used it to pay down property taxes.

In addition to raiding his nonprofit to fund personal expenses, including his wife’s pension and lavish home decor, Slingerland helped line the pockets of Democratic candidates like former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti (D.). He hosted multiple fundraisers for Garcetti’s 2013 campaign and contributed $5,000 to Democrats in the 2018 midterms, Fox News reported.

Slingerland, who ran the Los Angeles-based non-profit from 1996 to 2019, was fired because he was accused in a misusing of funds. According to bankruptcy filings, the former CEO was accused of having misappropriated $1.7 million of company funds. Slingerland referred to the filing “extremely misleading” It is not intended to be used. “a handful of expenditures were mistakenly made,” The Associated Press reported.

According to court filings, the Youth Policy Institute was established to combat poverty and empower youth through education and job-training initiatives. During his last years with the non-profit, Slingerland earned as high as $400,000 per year.

Slingerland must submit a financial disclosure form before he is sent to trial and pay at least $821 958.56 in restitution.