An accounting firm sanctioned by the state of Ohio for operating without proper certifications was responsible for verifying that two Somali nonprofit organizations were responsibly stewarding taxpayer funds, public records show.

When an entity spends $750,000 or more of federal grant money per year, it is required to submit an independent auditor’s report to ensure that public funds are being handled with care. These entities, however, are free to contract any public accountant they wish to fulfill that requirement, enabling some organizations to turn to friendly auditors to conduct oversight.