An indictment has been filed against the founder of a nonprofit organization in Oregon, accusing him of misappropriating grant funds meant for natural disaster victims to finance a lavish lifestyle that included frequent visits to the casino.
The Oregon Department of Justice stated that Marcus Brooks, the founder and executive director of the now-disbanded Cascade Relief Team, was indicted by a grand jury in Lincoln County. Although the Cascade Relief Team’s website has been deactivated, an Instagram account associated with the organization described it as a “non-profit organization devoted to empowering communities to come together in times of calamity.”
According to Oregon prosecutors, Cascade Relief was founded predominantly to enrich Brooks’ personal finances. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield stated in a press release that instead of utilizing grant funds to aid victims of tornadoes, floods, and wildfires in rebuilding their lives, Brooks misappropriated the money for his personal expenditures.
This man preyed on people at the worst moment of their lives,” said Rayfield. “He wore the badge of a disaster relief leader while gambling away the money meant to rebuild people’s homes and give them a new start.”
Rayfield emphasized that, as with any criminal case, Brooks is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Allegations in the Indictment
In 2021, the American Red Cross granted $326,000 to the Cascade Relief Team to construct tornado shelters in Kentucky. During the deadliest tornado outbreak in Kentucky’s history in December 2021, which resulted in 74 fatalities and over $4 billion in damages, thousands of homes and structures were severely affected or demolished. Brooks accepted the American Red Cross funds on the premise of urgently assisting in Kentucky’s recovery efforts.
Nevertheless, Rayfield claims that Brooks diverted the money towards his own vehicle payments, entertainment, casino withdrawals, personal payments, and unrelated travel instead of utilizing them for the intended Kentucky project.
Financial investigators allege that Brooks utilized the disaster relief funds not only for casino visits but also at strip clubs and a family trip to Disneyland.
At the time the Oregon DOJ issued the recent indictment, Brooks was already facing a civil lawsuit.
Furthermore, in 2020, along with the American Red Cross, the Cascade Relief Team received a $100,000 grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal to aid in wildfire debris removal and tree clearing. Rayfield alleges that Brooks’ organization failed to complete the assigned tasks, with at least $6,000 spent at casinos.
Staff’s Tip-Off to Authorities
Central Oregon Daily News disclosed that former employees who had been terminated raised concerns about Brooks’ alleged misconduct. They notified the Oregon DOJ, believing that Brooks had inappropriate access to the charity’s financial accounts.
Brooks has been charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree theft by Rayfield. A conviction on such charges can result in up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution payments.