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The anti-police activist spent PLN 75,000. dollars from charitable funds for luxury vacation rentals and other personal expenses: AG

The anti-police activist spent PLN 75,000. dollars from charitable funds for luxury vacation rentals and other personal expenses: AG

The anti-police activist allegedly “improperly used charitable contributions to fund lavish vacations and shopping sprees” after founding a nonprofit aimed at improving “transparency and accountability” in law enforcement, according to prosecutors.

The District of Columbia Attorney General’s Office is now suing Brandon Anderson – the executive director of Raheem AI – alleging that he “used $75,000 of the nonprofit’s funds for his own personal use” since 2021.

The funds reportedly included “spending more than $40,000 on a luxury vacation rental service that allows members to stay in upscale residences and penthouses, $10,000 on hotels and Airbnb apartments on personal travel – including to a resort in Cancun, $10,000 for designer clothes and $5,000 for emergency veterinary care.”

“Brandon Anderson improperly used charitable contributions to finance lavish vacations and shopping sprees, and Raheem AI’s board of directors allowed him to do so,” Attorney General Brian Schwalb – wrote in the statement. “Not only did their financial misconduct violate the basic principles of nonprofit governance, but Anderson and Raheem AI also failed to pay their (the district’s only employee) earned wages.

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Brandon Anderson with Raheem AI

Brandon Anderson is photographed in December 2019 in Oakland, California. (Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

“My office will not allow people to disguise themselves for good causes, violate the law, defraud taxpayers or steal from employees,” he added.

According to Raheem AI, it was founded in 2017 to create a service enabling complaints to the police. New York Times.

“When you report the police on Raheem.org, we will connect you with a free lawyer, file a complaint against the officer, and use your story to lobby for policies that debilitate police and invest in your community,” Anderson said. BET Networks.

Then in 2021, the nonprofit focused on creating an app that would send alternative emergency services instead of police to people in need, according to The New York Times.

The DC Attorney General’s Office says Raheem AI does business as Community Response Works and is a DC tax-exempt nonprofit corporation.

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Brandon Anderson faces lawsuit

Brandon Anderson is accused of diverting funds intended for Raheem AI for his own use. (Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

“She asked for donations to ‘equip Black, Brown and Indigenous people with the tools, training, connections and funds needed to provide care,'” the AG’s office added.

“Brandon Anderson … served as a member of the board of directors and executive director until April 2024. Although the board of Raheem AI recently placed Anderson on leave and ceased operations, neither he nor the organization has returned the misappropriated funds or compensated the employee for wages and compensation due,” the office said .

Prosecutors also allege that Anderson and Raheem AI forced their DC employee to sign an “illegal non-compete clause.”

The Office of the Attorney General alleges that the alleged actions violate the D.C. Nonprofit Corporation Act, the Compensation and Collection of Compensation Act (WCPL), and the Non-Competition Agreement Act.

“As part of this lawsuit, the OAG is asking the court to enter an order ordering Raheem AI to be dissolved as a District nonprofit corporation, recover the misused funds and direct them to appropriate charitable purposes, permanently prohibit Anderson from serving as a board member or director of any District nonprofit corporation -profit, awarding Raheem AI a Deputy Principal award for her salary plus damages, and awarding the district penalties for each violation of the WCPL,” the office said.

Police defund painted on the road

People walk through Washington after painting “Defund The Police” on a street near the White House, June 8, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

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According to the New York Times, Anderson denied misusing funds intended for the nonprofit organization.