Local News
Cobb juvenile court nonprofit dissolves following fraud scandal
Cobb County DA Vic Reynolds stresses the investigation is in preliminary stages.
A Cobb County nonprofit has dissolved after an investigation into the juvenile court system ensnared several of the organization’s staff members in criminal conspiracy charges.
Reconnecting Families filed paperwork to disband in July, which became effective Sept. 13, according to state records.
The group's website is now gone, but a cached page from May 2015 gives a description of what it did: "Reconnecting Families partners with the Cobb County community, court system and academic sector to provide prevention programs and treatment to offset the impact of drug addiction on the lives of children, teens and families."
It offered not only scholarship and GED programs, but tangible goods like furniture, clothes and diapers people in court dealing with juvenile, drug and family issues. The group incorporated in November 2007.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported on the group's troubles.
New court administrator Laura Murphree began the investigation in July after a "whistleblower outcry by several individuals working in and with the court system" alerted her to misuse of grant money. From there, prosecutors audited the books.
The audit led to a 27-count grand jury indictment on federal racketeering charges in December that accused four people — including former executive director Deborah Ponder, court administrator Mea Fagiola and former contractor James Bush Jr. The charges included racketeering, theft and other felonies for being paid $168,000 of grant money for work that wasn't performed.
Murphree answered the AJC's questions by email Tuesday.
“The entire sordid situation is not one that lends itself to be 'satisfied with the outcome.' It was and still is a sad chapter,” she said when asked about the outcome. “… Many needy individuals, including children, have lost out due to the deliberate and illegal conduct of a few."
Bush was ordered to return $18,000 he was paid to supervise juvenile probationers. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
Ponder was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to pay $30,000 in restitution.
Fagiola was sentenced to seven years probation after copping to racketeering and fraud.
All three pleaded guilty to a portion of the charges and were sentenced under the First Offender Act, which means the crimes will be erased from their records after they've served their sentences. They all skirted the maximum 20-year prison sentence that comes with a racketeering charge that could have come from a trial.
Prosecutors dropped charges against the fourth defendant, one-time contractor Carrie Kennedy, citing a lack of evidence.
"The Court is in a renaissance period right now with change on the bench, re-organization of court administration, and the addition of new programs,"Murphree said. "From time to time, review and reformation is a necessary part of moving forward for the betterment of any organization..."
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
