Former executive director of Raheem AI, Brandon Anderson, is facing legal action for allegedly misappropriating charitable donations for personal expenses. The District of Columbia's Attorney General alleges Anderson diverted $75,000 from the nonprofit, which aimed to promote police accountability, for luxury vacations, designer clothing, and other personal expenditures since 2021.
Accusations include spending over $40,000 on high-end vacation rentals, $10,000 on hotels and Airbnbs (including a Cancun resort), $10,000 on designer apparel, and $5,000 on veterinary services. Attorney General Brian Schwalb criticized both Anderson and Raheem AI's board for the alleged financial mismanagement and failure to pay their sole D.C. employee.
Founded in 2017, Raheem AI initially focused on facilitating complaints against police officers. Later, in 2021, it shifted to developing an app for dispatching alternative first responders instead of police. The D.C. Attorney General's office identifies Raheem AI, operating as Community Response Works, as a tax-exempt nonprofit that solicits donations for supporting community crisis responders.
Despite Anderson being placed on leave and Raheem AI ceasing operations, the misused funds remain unrecovered, and the employee's owed wages are unpaid. The lawsuit also claims Anderson and the organization imposed an unlawful noncompete clause on their D.C. employee. The Attorney General's office seeks the dissolution of Raheem AI, the recovery of misappropriated funds for legitimate charitable use, a ban on Anderson from leading D.C. nonprofits, compensation for the former employee, and penalties for wage law violations.
Anderson has denied the allegations of misusing funds, according to reports.
