The lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan follows the money trail as it allegedly went from city coffers to Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas’ pocket. Thomas denies the accusations. The lawsuit relies on bank statements, e-mails and witnesses. According to the lawsuit:
June 5, 2007: The D.C. Council allocates $4.4 million to the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp. All but $400,000 is earmarked for 16 specific organizations. The $400,000 Thomas attached to the bill is allocated generally to “youth baseball programs.”
Aug. 20, 2007: Thomas advises the trust corporation that he “has a clear direction for the funding.”
Dec. 4 2007: Thomas tells the trust corporation that the youth baseball funding grant will be for the Langston 21st Century Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the Langston Golf Course that provides golf programs for youth. The foundation is run by Jimmy Garvin and Marshall Banks, whose attorney did not respond Monday to a request for comment. Thomas had reportedly discussed with Garvin and Banks that they would send the grant money to Thomas’ nonprofit group, Team Thomas.
Jan. 24, 2008: The trust corporation issues a check for $100,000 to “Langston 21” at Thomas’ request. Thomas reportedly instructs Garvin to write a $15,000 check to Team Thomas and a $60,000 check payable to Thomas’ for-profit company, HLT Development.
Feb. 6, 2008: Thomas picks up the checks at Langston Golf Course. Before he deposits the HLT check, the account has a negative $90 balance.
Feb. 8, 2008: Thomas withdraws $58,772 from the HLT bank account as a cashier’s check payable to “Tischer Auto F&I.” That night, Thomas goes to Tischer Audi of Silver Spring and buys a $69,149 2008 Audi Q7 4.2 quattro Premium sport utility vehicle. He gets about $9,000 by trading in a 2004 Dodge Durango, but he’s still about $1,000 short. He pays the remaining $1,000 with his Team Thomas debit card.
Over the next year, Thomas’ office writes reports to the trust corporation so it will release the remaining $300,000 to the Langston foundation. Nathan says some of the cash went to baseball programs, but the bulk went into Thomas’ wallet. The Langston foundation kept about $86,000 and is now returning the cash to the city as part of a settlement agreement, Nathan said.
