Nonprofit director took cash meant to bail Black trans people out of jail, officials say
The former executive director of a New York City nonprofit aimed at helping Black transgender people across the country has been accused of misusing funds meant to bail people out of jail, New York officials said.
Dominique Morgan, 42, was indicted on one count of grand larceny and 23 counts of falsifying business records on Oct. 29, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
McClatchy News reached out to Morgan but did not immediately receive a response.
When Morgan, the former executive director of The Okra Project, was asked to submit proof of how she used the funds, she shared bail receipts of people she said were arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, and Douglas County, Nebraska, according to prosecutors.
However, an audit by The Okra Project revealed those receipts were fraudulent, according to officials.
“No such persons were arrested in those counties at the time,” the DA’s office said.
At the time, Morgan was making a $200,000 salary at The Okra Project, the DA said.
“The theft of nonprofit funds deprives communities of critical resources, erodes public trust, and cheats donors who give in good faith,” Gonzalez said in a news release. “The defendant in this case allegedly stole bail funds meant to secure pre-trial release of indigent defendants, instead using the money for personal benefit.”
Following the audit, The Okra Project said Morgan was fired in August 2022.
“The Okra Project stands firm in our commitment to those we serve and to our donors, remaining steadfast in our mission to provide essential support and advocacy,” the organization said in a statement to McClatchy News.
The bail program is not part of The Okra Project, the nonprofit said.
“While not an official program, the defendant, in her role as director, announced that OKRA would start bailing people out of jail, although she allegedly did not take any steps to get the initiative up and running,” prosecutors said.
Morgan currently serves as the director fund for Trans Generations at Borealis Philanthropy, according to her LinkedIn.
In July 2022, Morgan transferred $99,000 into her personal account to pay for bail, officials said. Instead, the DA’s office said she renovated her closet for $19,000, made car payments on a Mercedes Benz and purchased clothes and food.
Morgan is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, and had a portion of a street named after her in 2023, recognizing her advocacy and activism in the LGBTQ+ community, according to KETV.
Morgan was arraigned on Oct. 29 and was released without bail, prosecutors said. She is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 18.
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 12:02 PM with the headline "Nonprofit director took cash meant to bail Black trans people out of jail, officials say."
