The founder of an Atlanta-based nonprofit was arrested Thursday after authorities said he sold community service hours to criminal defendants who never actually completed any work.
Derek “Al” Sneed, 39, was arrested in Marietta, months after the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office asked the GBI to investigate allegations that his agency was signing off on community service hours in exchange for cash, authorities said.
According to the GBI, Sneed runs the nonprofit Alliance of Dreams, which advertises itself as a transitional housing program that provides jobs and ministry services for men.
“After payment of money, Sneed would provide fraudulent documents stating the defendant had performed their court-ordered community service at Alliance of Dreams when in fact they had not,” the GBI said in a news release. The district attorney’s office asked the agency to look into the allegations May 6.
An employee at the nonprofit declined to comment when reached by phone Friday afternoon.
Sneed, who has a Lithonia address listed in jail records, faces one felony count of false statements and writings.
GBI spokesman Bahan Rich said Sneed had provided false documents to defendants for at least nine months, though there’s no indication they were sentenced to community service in counties outside Cobb.
“We believe there are multiple defendants, but we do not know at this time how many there are,” he said.
The GBI said its investigation is ongoing and that additional charges are pending.
Sneed was released from the Cobb County jail early Friday after posting a $16,720 bond, online records show.
About the Author
