Crime

BLM Leader Accused of Embezzling $3.15M in Donor Funds

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has issued a 25-count indictment against a prominent Black Lives Matter (BLM) organiser in Oklahoma City, Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson. The case has sent shockwaves through non-profit circles and social justice supporters.

Prosecutors claim that Dickerson, 52, executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City (BLMOKC), ran a long-term scheme to siphon at least $3.15 million in returned bail money and donations for her own benefit. Authorities say this represents a serious breach of public trust and could lead to severe criminal penalties.

The unsealed indictment charges Dickerson with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, working with the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation, alleges that the misconduct took place over more than five years, from June 2020 through October 2025.

According to the indictment, the heart of the scheme involved Dickerson allegedly directing returned bail cheques, which donors believed would support a revolving bail fund or wider social justice work, into her own bank accounts rather than back into BLMOKC’s programmes.

Alleged Spending on Travel, Property, Luxury Shopping, and a Personal Car

Federal prosecutors say the money that donors thought would help people arrested during racial justice demonstrations instead supported Dickerson’s personal lifestyle. The indictment lays out a detailed list of alleged spending, including:

International travel: Holidays for Dickerson and people close to her in high-end destinations such as Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Property purchases: At least six properties in Oklahoma City, allegedly placed in her own name or in the name of a company she controlled, Equity International, LLC.
Personal expenses: Tens of thousands of dollars at retail shops, along with at least $50,000 on food and grocery deliveries for her and her children.
Vehicle purchase: A personal car registered in her own name.

Since 2020, BLMOKC has reportedly raised more than $5.6 million, much of it from online donors and national bail funds that surged after the murder of George Floyd. Because BLMOKC was not a tax-exempt charity, it worked with an Arizona-based non-profit, the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), as its fiscal sponsor.

Under that agreement, all funds had to be used for tax-exempt purposes, and BLMOKC was not allowed to buy property without AFGJ’s approval.

Prosecutors allege that Dickerson filed misleading yearly reports with AFGJ. They say she hid her personal spending and falsely claimed that all funds went toward charitable, tax-exempt activities. According to the indictment, these reports helped keep the wire fraud scheme going.

Heavy Potential Penalties

If a jury convicts Dickerson, she faces significant prison time and financial penalties. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each money laundering count carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the value of the funds involved.

Shortly after the indictment became public, Dickerson posted a brief live video on her Facebook page. She has served as BLMOKC’s executive director since at least 2016. In the video, she told viewers she was “fine” and “safe” but did not directly address the detailed allegations.

“A lot of times when people come at you with these types of things it’s evidence that you are doing the work,” she said, without giving further explanation.

A Growing Pattern of Scrutiny Over BLM Finances

These federal charges against a well-known local BLM leader follow years of questions and criticism about how money has been managed across parts of the wider Black Lives Matter movement. For many supporters and donors, the case deepens concerns about accountability inside large social justice groups that received huge sums after 2020.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), a separate national body, has already dealt with intense public pressure over its own finances.

The $6 million California property: BLMGNF drew widespread criticism when reports surfaced that it had used donor money to buy a $6 million luxury home in Studio City, California, in 2020. The foundation later said the property was intended as a “creative and community space”. The timing, price, and lack of early disclosure raised serious questions about how donations were handled.
Founder’s property purchases: Co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who has since stepped down, came under fire for her own real estate deals. She rejected claims of wrongdoing and said her homes were bought with income from consulting work and book contracts. Even so, the reports fuelled concern over blurred lines between personal wealth and organisational funds among movement figures.
Lawsuits and further fraud cases: BLMGNF was also sued by Black Lives Matter Grassroots, which accused a BLMGNF board member of diverting $10 million in donations. In a separate case, a self-described leader of BLM of Greater Atlanta was arrested and later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after using about $200,000 in donor funds on personal spending.

Taken together with the new case against Tashella Dickerson, these episodes create a troubling picture of inconsistent financial controls inside certain parts of the decentralised Black Lives Matter network.

Donor Trust and the Purpose of Bail Funds

Bail funds play a key role in protest movements and wider efforts to challenge mass incarceration. They exist to help people who are jailed before trial simply because they cannot afford bail.

When money clearly set aside for that purpose is allegedly funnelled into private spending on holidays, property, and groceries, it does more than harm one organisation’s reputation. It can shake public faith in the cause as a whole.

Millions of people donated in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, expecting their money to support justice, legal defence, and community organising. The Dickerson indictment raises sharp concerns for those donors about where their contributions really went and who was watching over the accounts.

The investigation, led by the FBI and IRS, reflects growing federal interest in how non-profits manage large public donations, especially during moments of national crisis when money pours in quickly.

As Dickerson’s case moves through the courts, it will attract close attention from activists, donors, and other non-profit leaders. The legal process will decide her guilt or innocence, and she is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Still, the detailed accusations are already having an effect. The claim that millions meant for justice work instead funded a life of comfort and luxury hangs heavily over not only BLMOKC, but parts of the wider movement and its promise of social change.

Crime

Somali’s Accused of Bilking Millions From Maine’s Medicaid Program

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

VORNews

Somali Accused of Bilking Millions From Maine's Medicaid Program

LEWISTON, Maine- Maine’s Medicaid system, known as MaineCare, is under serious scrutiny after a series of alleged Somali fraud schemes drained millions of taxpayer dollars from the program. Federal and state investigators have tracked several cases that show a clear pattern of abuse, many tied to people of Somali origin working in health care and interpreter services in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

These schemes redirected money meant for low-income and medically fragile residents, raised doubts about oversight, and sparked public concern about how MaineCare is managed and protected.

The Somali Kickback Scheme

One of the most serious recent cases ended in 2021 with the sentencing of two Lewiston men, Abdirashid Ahmed, 41, and Garat Osman, 35. Both were ordered to repay more than $2.4 million to MaineCare. Ahmed and Osman, who worked as Somali interpreters, pleaded guilty to health care fraud tied to a scheme involving a local counseling agency, Facing Change.

Court records show the fraud took place from late 2015 through 2018. Prosecutors said Ahmed asked Nancy Ludwig, the owner of Facing Change, for kickbacks in return for sending MaineCare patients to her clinic. Once clients arrived, Ahmed, Osman, and others joined with Ludwig to file false claims with MaineCare.

The group billed for services that were never provided or inflated the level of care given. In many cases, they claimed both counseling and interpreter services, which did not happen at all.

When MaineCare rules changed in 2016, the group allegedly found a way to keep the money flowing. According to the government, Ludwig and Ahmed agreed to change many patients’ diagnoses to schizophrenia so they would still qualify for high-paying services at Facing Change.

When the MaineCare Program Integrity Unit showed up to audit the agency in fall 2016, the people involved did not stop. Investigators say they created fake records to back up their false claims and mislead auditors. Osman, who joined the plot in late 2016, set up his own interpreter company and used it to keep the fraud going and move the illegal payments.

Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark praised investigators and made clear how serious the case was, saying that federal and state agencies will keep going after anyone who cheats public health programs. Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for HHS-OIG, said that health care fraud drains money that should help the most vulnerable patients.

Ahmed received a two-year prison sentence. Osman was sentenced to three years of probation, along with heavy restitution and financial penalties.

Early Home Care Fraud Case

The interpreter case did not come out of nowhere. Years earlier, in 2012, another Lewiston resident, Somali native Mohdi M. Ali, 56, pleaded guilty to several federal charges, including making false statements involving a health care benefit program.

Ali was the former head of Decent Home Care Inc., a company that provided nonmedical services to seniors and people with disabilities under MaineCare. According to prosecutors, Ali obtained a Social Security number and an alien registration card by lying about his background, including falsely claiming that he had lived in refugee camps in Kenya.

Decent Home Care Inc. took in more than $1 million from MaineCare in 2008 alone. Ali used his fraudulently obtained documents to sign up for MaineCare benefits in 2006, the same year he created his company.

A 2007 review found that Ali had lied to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). He hid about $29,000 in bank savings and $24,000 in wages he earned as the executive director of his own firm. By hiding that income and those assets, he got approved as a MaineCare provider for his company.

Ali faced a possible 15-year prison sentence and up to $500,000 in fines. As part of his plea deal, he also agreed that he would be removed to Canada after serving any prison time. His case showed how MaineCare can be exploited when someone is willing to lie about their status, income, and assets.

The Cost to Maine Residents

Taken together, these fraud cases reveal long-term weaknesses in how MaineCare is monitored. The numbers are large on their own, with more than $2.4 million tied to the interpreter scheme and more than $1 million linked to Decent Home Care. The broader impact is even larger, since every stolen dollar is money that does not go to people who need health care help.

The Maine Attorney General’s Healthcare Crimes Unit, which receives federal funding, leads many of these investigations. State officials are encouraging residents and health care workers to report suspicious billing, fake records, or unusual patterns of service use. Public tips often help stop fraud before it grows.

The fact that several high-profile cases involve members of the Somali community has caused tension in Lewiston-Auburn and beyond. Community leaders, providers, and state agencies are debating how to strengthen background checks and monitoring for health care and interpreter services, while also avoiding unfair treatment of honest providers.

Federal and state law enforcement agencies say they will keep working together to track and prosecute Medicaid fraud. Their message is direct: those who abuse MaineCare for personal gain can expect aggressive investigation and serious legal consequences.

For a broader look at similar issues in another state, the video Unmasking the Minnesota Somali Fraud Network discusses alleged fraud involving Somalis and government-funded programs, which mirrors some of the patterns seen in the MaineCare cases.

Crime

DHS Accused Illinois Governor of Releasing Violent Illegal Criminals

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

VORNews

Illinois Governor Releases Violent Criminal Illegals Despite DHS Arrest Warrants

SPRINGFIELD, IL—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has leveled a devastating indictment against Illinois, alleging the state’s “sanctuary” policies have led to the systemic release of at least 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since January 20th of this year.

This staggering figure represents individuals who should have been transferred to federal custody but were instead released back into Illinois communities due to the state’s refusal to honor lawful federal arrest detainers.

The DHS press release, issued on December 8, 2025, did not mince words, directly accusing Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and his administration of recklessly endangering the public. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated plainly, “Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing murderers, pedophiles, and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk.”

The “Worst of the Worst” on the Streets

The list of offenses detailed by DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials includes crimes that shock the conscience. Among the released are individuals convicted of or charged with:

Aggravated Kidnapping/Ransom
Attempted Murder and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault of a Victim Less Than 13 Years of Age
Child Abduction/Lure Child

ICE Director Todd Lyons has publicly called on Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to reverse course and cooperate immediately, emphasizing that there are currently more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in the state’s custody for whom ICE detainers have been lodged.

“It is common sense,” McLaughlin asserted. “Criminal illegal aliens should not be released back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans.”

Sanctuary Policy: A Direct Threat to Public Safety

At the heart of the crisis is Illinois’ status as a “sanctuary state,” a designation that shields illegal immigrants from the full force of federal immigration enforcement. ICE detainers are requests to state and local law enforcement agencies to hold an individual suspected of being deportable for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released, giving ICE agents time to take them into federal custody.

Illinois authorities, citing the state’s “sanctuary” laws, have systematically disregarded these federal requests. This defiance effectively transforms local jails and prisons into revolving doors for deportable, convicted, or accused foreign nationals.

DHS provided harrowing case studies illustrating the consequences of this non-cooperation:

Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of three counts of aggravated kidnapping/ransom, was sentenced to 18 years. Despite an ICE detainer, he was released by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). ICE was later forced to track him down and re-arrest him.
Leonardo Ignot-Osto, an illegal alien with a criminal history, including a conviction for child abduction/lure child, was released from Cook County Jail in September 2025, despite an active detainer.

These cases, DHS argues, are not isolated mistakes but the direct, foreseeable outcome of policies prioritized over public safety.

The Legal Battle: Federal Supremacy vs. State Autonomy

This dramatic confrontation reignites the long-running constitutional battle between the federal government’s authority over immigration and state resistance. DHS asserts that the state’s failure to honor detainers—requests that are central to enforcing federal law—violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Illinois officials, however, have doubled down. Governor Pritzker signed an executive order creating the Illinois Accountability Commission, ostensibly to investigate what he terms “federal immigration agent abuses.” Illinois Senate President Don Harmon stated that a newly passed state law, HB 1312, provides victims of what he called a “chaotic federal assault” a legal path to pursue their “abusers.”

This framing—of federal law enforcement as “abusers” and violent criminals as victims of overreach—is precisely what infuriates DHS leadership. Former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf warned on Varney & Co. that Illinois’ “refusal to honor ICE detainers has led to the release of more than 1,700 criminal migrants, fueling concerns over rising sanctuary policies and public safety risks.”

Credibility Questioned

While DHS claims to target only the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, a recent court filing in a separate case—concerning ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago—introduced a complication. DOJ records from November 2025 showed that out of a sample of 614 immigrants arrested during the operation, 97% did not have a criminal record.

This data point, though separate from the detainer issue, has provided political ammunition to Illinois officials and immigrant advocates, who accuse federal agents of conducting broad, indiscriminate sweeps that undermine the narrative of targeted enforcement against dangerous criminals. DHS has not directly addressed the discrepancy but insists its focus remains on the 1,768 criminals released due to the sanctuary policies.

The core issue remains: as long as Illinois refuses to cooperate with federal law enforcement, a population of convicted and accused criminals, who have no legal right to be in the country, will continue to be released from custody and vanish back into American communities. The question facing Illinois residents is whether their state’s commitment to “sanctuary” is worth the demonstrable risk to public safety.

Related News:

New Jersey Twins Arrested in Over Alleged Death Threats Against DHS Official

Crime

New Jersey Twins Arrested in Over Alleged Death Threats Against DHS Official

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

VORNews

ABSECON, NJ – Twin brothers from New Jersey are in custody after a joint operation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local police. They face serious charges tied to alleged online death threats directed at DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and other federal law enforcement officers.

Emilio Roman-Flores and Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, both U.S. citizens who live in Absecon, were arrested Tuesday.

Investigators traced a series of social media posts that allegedly included threats to “hang” the Assistant Secretary and a broader call to “shoot ICE on sight.” Federal officials say the case reflects a stronger push to respond to violent threats aimed at public officials online.

Death Threats Against DHS Official

The Charges: Weapons Offenses and Terroristic Threats

In a press release, DHS outlined the charges against the brothers, describing them as serious and wide-ranging.

Emilio Roman-Flores is charged with multiple felonies, including:

Unlawful possession of an assault weapon
Possession of prohibited weapons
Conspiracy
Terroristic threats
Criminal coercion
Cyber harassment

Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores is charged with:

Conspiracy
Terroristic threats

Both men are being held by the Absecon Police Department in Atlantic County while the case moves into the court system.

Federal Officials Respond With Strong Warning

Soon after the arrests, federal leaders issued sharp statements, describing the action as a clear warning to anyone considering violent threats against officers.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons released a brief but intense statement about the case and the broader climate officers face. “Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” Lyons said. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you.”

Lyons said the current political and media environment is driving a sharp spike in threats against ICE officers. He cited what he called an 8,000% increase in death threats targeting ICE agents while they perform their duties.

“The extreme rhetoric of the news media, sanctuary politicians, and activists is leading directly to our law enforcement officers facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them,” Lyons said in the DHS release. “If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

DHS stressed that the search and arrest warrants were carried out through a coordinated operation that involved federal agents and the Absecon Police Department’s SWAT team. Officials said this approach was necessary to address what they viewed as a serious potential threat tied to the Roman-Flores brothers.

Online DHS Threats Turning Into Criminal Cases

This case shows how posts on social media can quickly turn into criminal charges when they cross the line into direct threats. Authorities have not publicly detailed the brothers’ motives, but the alleged posts targeted a senior spokesperson for a Trump administration official and urged violence against federal agents. That mix of politics, online platforms, and violent language has become a growing concern for law enforcement.

Federal and state prosecutors are using cyber harassment and terroristic threat laws more often to respond to credible threats against public figures. The anonymity and reach of the internet have made it easier for some people to issue violent statements they might not make face-to-face. The weapons charges against Emilio Roman-Flores suggest that officers found physical evidence during the search that raised even more concern about the seriousness of the threats.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, a top spokeswoman for DHS, is now among the many high-profile government officials targeted by intense hostility online.

The arrests send a direct message from federal authorities: threats against DHS staff, ICE agents, or other federal personnel, even when made online, will be taken seriously and pursued through criminal charges, no matter the political views or status of the people involved.

The Roman-Flores twins are awaiting arraignment, which will outline the next steps in the legal process. VORNews will keep following the case and share updates as new information comes out.