United Way officials, FBI meet amid Trammell probe

Use of federal funds reportedly focus of inquiry

The Rev. Markel Hutchins (center), from Atlanta and a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference executive board, conducts a press conference Thursday, Feb. 25, at 11 Woodward Ave, near the Dayton SCLC headquarters. The Rev. Raleigh Trammell, the national and Dayton chapter chairman is present (left foreground).

Ron Alvey/Staff photographer The Rev. Markel Hutchins (center), from Atlanta and a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference executive board, conducts a press conference Thursday, Feb. 25, at 11 Woodward Ave, near the Dayton SCLC headquarters. The Rev. Raleigh Trammell, the national and Dayton chapter chairman is present (left foreground).

ENLARGE PHOTO

Victoria Theatre announces 2012-13 lineup
2/13/12
Court rules Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival violated religious free speech
2/13/12
Overnight snow may cause slippery morning commute
2/13/12
Housing, credit crisis hurt home remodeling
2/13/12
WPAFB escapes cuts in latest budget plan
2/13/12
> More headlines

By Lynn Hulsey and Tom Beyerlein
Staff Writers Updated 8:09 AM Friday, February 26, 2010

DAYTON — FBI agents are investigating the use of federal funds by two groups run by the Rev. Raleigh Trammell, according to Jayne Klose, senior vice president of United Way of Greater Dayton.

She said United Way officials met with the FBI on Monday and gave them information about Federal Emergency Management Agency money awarded to the Dayton Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

United Way, which administers the money, learned earlier this month that the two groups had quietly closed a food pantry and domestic violence shelter that had been paid for with federal funds. The case has been referred for a possible fraud investigation to FEMA, which has funded the groups since 2001.

Trammell declined to comment on any of the investigations swirling around him over his group’s use of public money and allegations that he and another man embezzled national SCLC funds. Trammell is chairman of the national and Dayton SCLC and executive director of the IMA.

On Thursday he received the support of nine members of the national board who met in Dayton at an executive board meeting called by him.

Board member the Rev. Markel Hutchins called the allegations a “witch hunt” by disgruntled SCLC employees and those fraudulently claiming to be on the board.

Hutchins of Atlanta said the group would have gladly turned over documents to the Fulton County district attorney and the FBI if officials had only asked.

“They’ve exonerated him. I must commend Rev. Trammell once again for his trickery on this board,” said Florida SCLC President Art Rocker, a national board member who has presented evidence against Trammell and national Treasurer Spiver Gordon to law enforcement officials in Alabama and Georgia.

Rocker, who was not at the meeting in Dayton, faces banishment from the SCLC, according to a Jan. 28 letter from the Rev. Wilburt Shanklin, national compliance chairman for the SCLC and president of the IMA.

Board members interviewed Monday refused to say how many of the nine in attendance were on the executive board, saying only that a quorum was present. In early January the full board had 44 board members.

Internal troubles have plagued the national SCLC. In December, the board announced an internal investigation of allegations against Trammell and Gordon and said they’d been placed on leave. A short time later a faction of the board accused Dayton’s Trammell and Gordon of Eutaw, Ala., of embezzling at least $569,000. Both have denied wrongdoing.

In January three SCLC officials, including Shanklin, successfully sought a court order in Atlanta temporarily restoring Trammell and Gordon to their jobs.

Shanklin stood with the nine board members on Thursday but did not speak at the news conference. Later, he said, “I’ve got to respond to this grand jury thing.”

A Fulton County, Ga., grand jury is expected to convene today and has requested a variety of SCLC documents, including bank statements, IRS records, board resolutions and minutes from board meetings, the Daily News has learned. Other documents sought include requests for travel reimbursement and other vouchers submitted by Trammell, Shanklin, Gordon, Trammel’s daughter Cheryl Spencer, and four others.

On Feb. 11, FBI agents raided Dayton SCLC headquarters at 2132 W. Third St., along with the Dayton homes of Trammell, 73, and his daughter, Angela Goodwine.

Since the raid, the county and state governments, along with the local policy board overseeing the FEMA money, have withdrawn $232,383 in annual public funding for the IMA and SCLC over questions about whether the groups provided services to needy people as required.

FBI Special Agent Mike Brooks said the FBI’s Cincinnati office is continuing its investigation.

“The only thing that we can say is we understand the FBI continues to review items that were taken as part of the search conducted Feb. 11 looking for evidence of any crimes that may have been committed,” said Fred Alverson, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Southern Ohio office.

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-7455 or  lhulsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article