Federal agents investigating the use of taxpayer dollars by Kevin Johnson's St. HOPE have turned the case over to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento, officials confirmed Thursday.
A spokesman for the agency conducting the probe said he could not comment specifically on the case. But, any " referral means that it's our opinion that there is some truth to the initial allegations, backed up by our investigation of the matter," said William O. Hillburg, spokesman for office of inspector general for the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Since the inspector general's office does not have prosecutorial authority, Hillburg said it depends on federal prosecutors to "decide whether it's a criminal or civil matter – essentially whether they want to put someone in jail or decide to get the money back. They might also say they can't handle it, because it doesn't meet their threshold for prosecution."
Federal agents were dispatched to Sacramento in April to examine Johnson's volunteer program, Hood Corps. They investigated whether the nonprofit misused federal funds, required volunteers to attend church and train for a marathon on the federal dime or mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct.
U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott confirmed Thursday evening that "we are in receipt of the Inspector General's report and we are... reviewing it."
Johnson, facing Sacramento's Mayor Heather Fargo in a November runoff, said in a statement released by his campaign: "Although we have not seen the report, we are confident that it will show only administrative mistakes that St. HOPE already has acknowledged. We look forward to the U.S. Attorney's review and will continue to cooperate fully."
Timothy Zindel, a local assistant federal defender, said it's unlikely that the inspector general's office would turn over the case if it was a "simple non-compliance matter."
"The U.S. Attorney wouldn't handle something like that, unless it's an issue of recovery of funds on the civil side," he said.
A decision on whether to file charges could take from days to months, Zindel said, but he added that because of public interest in the case the process might move faster.
Call The Bee's Dorothy Korber, (916) 321-1061. The Bee's Denny Walsh also contributed to this report.
