Posts Tagged ‘Barbara McKinzie’

The court today ruled that the original dismissal by Judge Natalia Combs Greene was too soon, which blocked any consideration of the allegations by the original 8 plaintiffs on the merits.

Duh?!

That decision was OVERTURNED on appeal…and now remanded for TRIAL!

Hello there Barbara McKinzie…

I’m BAAAAAAAACK!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority is going BACK to trial!

Mo’Kelly had to call in a favor from the courts to get the following document, but you are welcome to share it far and wide.

Click HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For the most recent posts of Mr. Mo’Kelly, visit http://mrmokelly.com.  Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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And ALSO ordered that the sorority pay $2500.00 in court costs for Julia Purnell!  Yes!

FULL STORY HERE.

But Purnell’s attorney said there were about 80 checks missing for amounts in excess of $10,000, that half of the expenses on an American Express account lacked coding and that records for one account — called the Profit Fund — couldn’t be found, though the auditors discovered a checks for about $350,000 written against it.

“It appears that the books and records of the sorority are in disarray, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” Major told Judge Daniel Riley.

McKinzie did not appear in court Friday. Carolyn House Stewart, who is the sorority’s current president and executive director, and McKinzie ally Deborah Dangerfield attended the hearing.

“We have complied with all orders of the court,” said Stewart, a Tampa, Fla., attorney.

Also Friday, the judge also ordered AKA to pay $2,500 to cover court costs for  Purnell.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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(But once again, remember you read about it FIRST…in The Mo’Kelly Report.)

According to a recently conducted financial investigation by an Elmhurst-based Illinois firm, Edward Kirby & Associates, Inc., AKA Inc., gave about $2 million in reimbursements and pay to McKinzie over the four years she served as president of the organization.

Although the investigators had limited time in which to conduct their review of the organization’s financial records, their examination found that McKinzie received “combined payments for compensation, retirement, taxes and expenses in excess of $2.2 million dollars.”

The review also discovered life insurance payments paid by

"Y'all misunderstood me...I didn't want a 'wax statue'...I wanted a 'waxed lip'. My bad."

AKA on behalf of McKinzie of more than $170,000 — among other financial perks.

“It is noted that these payments were just from a review of the general account and the American Express charge account,” wrote Steven Kirby in a letter detailing the review to Major and dated Sept. 20.

The review was conducted on behalf of Purnell who won a court order.

“There were several other AKA bank accounts that were not examined due to time and budget constraints from which additional funds were paid to Barbara McKinzie,” Kirby wrote.

According to the summary of the financial review, there were several “questionable transactions and/or bookkeeping issues.”

Fourteen missing checks, each for more than $10,000, totaling more than $327,000 that were not listed in the register;

Several duplicate expenses submitted by McKinzie paid by AKA’s American Express account;

Quarterly expense reports submitted by McKinzie with receipts from previous years;

Several thousand dollars charged for clothing from high fashion stores;

Over $35,000 for purchases listed as gifts that showed limited or no details;

Payments of McKinzie’s home and cell phone bills over $13,000.

“It is the opinion of the investigators that the preliminary findings to date would warrant a much more detailed examination and analysis of the books and records of AKA,” Kirby wrote. “The areas that should be focused on include a review of the additional bank accounts focusing on similar suspect payments as found in the review of the general account [and] an interview with Barbara McKinzie regarding questionable charges.”

Full story HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Spies for The Mo’Kelly Report are reporting that the Chief Financial Officer for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eric Salstrand was “escorted” out of the building, by order of present Supreme Basileus Carolyn House Stewart who was at headquarters today.

The length of the “suspension” has been set at seven days, but likely is a precautionary legal measure which will precede outright termination, and criminal charges.

This would be the first official shoe to drop.  Eric Salstrand better start singing like a canary…or he’s going to jail, no exaggeration.

The restoration of AKA is officially underway.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Today…It’s Mo’Kelly’s turn.  This is for my detractors and them only.  You know who you are and more importantly…so do I.

For more than a year, Mo’Kelly (Morris W. O’Kelly) has been subjected to all sorts of threats, insults, ridicule and indefensible behavior, in an effort to express one’s “objection” to my ongoing coverage of the issues confronting Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  In some respects, it was just fine.  I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.  As they say, I signed up for this and signed my name to it.

That said…

For the most part, I remained silent in the face of the ridiculous behavior.  In fact, the majority of the most vulgar, hateful emails came from the members themselves of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (and yes many others containing the same level of vitriol did not).  If I were to publish even a third of the notes, the world would be wondering if the organization would be even worth saving.  It would be hard to argue the value of AKA if such emails were in any way representative of its “college-educated” membership.  Granted, it would be unfair to characterize the outlandish remarks as peculiar to any particular group, but just know the overwhelming majority came from members of your illustrious sorority.  Maybe the goal was to have Mo’Kelly sink to a level unworthy of public respect, have him respond in a manner equally derogatory.

You failed.

Let the record show, Mo’Kelly did not disrespect not one person in return publicly or privately regardless of the hate shown me.

Not once.

There were emails from family members of AKAs who took issue with The Mo’Kelly Report for having the “audacity” to offer a public opinion about a “private” matter.  There were nasty comments and emails from members of other Black Greek-Letter organizations who felt the need to chastise me and my efforts to shine a light on this incredible level of financial malfeasance in “someone else’s” organization.  If the goal was to have Mo’Kelly respond in kind…

You failed.

Outside of my customary cynicism and sarcasm, for the most part, I remained silent.

Today…it’s my turn (to respond).

There were AKA impersonators who even put in their two cents in “defense” of Barbara McKinzie in an attempt to discredit me and my work.

You failed.

That’s not even including the calls and letters to my employer in an attempt to have me fired, despite full-well knowing the truth of the matter; the truth that Barbara McKinzie is/was robbing your beloved organization to the point of bankruptcy.

You failed.  Be glad you did, you at least still have a sorority and you’re welcome.

This is not even about the disrespect some have shown their own sorority sisters, the original 8 plaintiffs. That’s a completely different discussion for a different day.  Mo’Kelly can not and will not speak to the supposed “sisterhood” many of you had shown them.  They can adequately speak for themselves and on their own behalf.

But for the most part…on these personal matters regarding Mo’Kelly specifically, I remained silent and showed tremendous restraint.  Today though, it’s my turn to respond.

During these many months I said nothing about the overt movement to keep my older sister (an AKA) from becoming basileus of her chapter here in Southern California, specifically because “I,” “Mo’Kelly” was her brother.  Don’t think “Mo’Kelly” didn’t know about that and don’t think Mo’Kelly forgot about it either.  The next time “her brother” should come to one of “that chapter’s” events, just know that Mo’Kelly knows and will not forget.

But your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

I largely said nothing about the nastiness shown my mother, sister, great aunt and Ivy Beyond the Wall maternal grandmother (ALL AKAs) on The Ivy Vine listserv.  I never directly addressed the multiple discussions of these issues in supposed “connection” to my family when none of the aforementioned had ANY involvement whatsoever with ANYTHING published here in The Mo’Kelly Report.

No family member has EVER, under ANY circumstances participated in any information posted on any website or blog regarding AKA…EVER.  Nonetheless, some out there thought that the best way to get Mo’Kelly to “stop” was to “start in” on my family members.

You failed.

But be of good cheer, your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

Those specific individuals involved in that foolishness on The Ivy Vine, you shall remain nameless.  But be clear, Mo’Kelly does know your name(s).  Be sure to post this too on The Ivy Vine, with a big thank you note at the bottom of your aforementioned apology.  Mo’Kelly has earned both.

“Class” is not something you wear or emblematic of an organization you join, it’s found in the outward expression of one’s heart in the face of adversity.

Barbara McKinzie was paid somewhere close to 2 million dollars for an unpaid position by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  FACT.  If there is anyone or anything in which one’s anger should have been directed, it’s to an address in Olympia Fields, Illinois.  If you like, Mo’Kelly will gladly forward it to your attention.

You know who you are.  Mo’Kelly accepts your collective apology too.  Thanking you in advance.

I said nothing about the blatant disregard and disrespect shown to me by other California AKAs at the local Frat Games, and yes, you shall remain nameless.  And yes, I do know your names.  Every single one of your insults and derogatory remarks made its way back to Mo’Kelly.  I said nothing in return to you or about you.  Your apology too is accepted.  You (in time) will have your sorority back and you’re also welcome.

Heretofore Mo’Kelly’s detractors have had their say.  Today it’s my turn to have mine.

Right is right…wrong is wrong.  Read the audit report and come back and tell Mo’Kelly the difference between “right” and “wrong.”  Listen to the interview with former employee Kenitra Shackelford and then tell Mo’Kelly who is in the wrong; who is hurting your beloved sorority.  Listen to the interview with Ms. Carol Ray and then come tell Mo’Kelly he needs to “mind his own business.”

There’s no fame, fortune or future gain in devoting more than a year to uncovering the financial malfeasance of a single African-American sorority of marginal news notoriety.  99% of the rest of the world does not care if AKA survives to see 2011 or the issues impacting the end result.

To my detractors, “you’re welcome.”  Be sure to think of Mo’Kelly the next time you send your dues check to nationals.  Your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

If Mo’Kelly were simply interested in “making a name for himself,” he would have gone the celebrity gossip route and accordingly named his blog, “Mediatakeout.com” or “Bossip.com” or “Hotghettomess.com”

This is The Mo’Kelly Report!

It is not to be confused with any such foolishness.  Do not EVER get it twisted.  Mo’Kelly BREAKS stories, Mo’Kelly covers NEWS and Mo’Kelly tells the TRUTH, be it Alpha Kappa Alpha, AME Church or T.D. Jakes/Juanita Bynum/Eddie Long.

And I’m gon’ keep on tellin’ it.

Your collective apologies are accepted.

Now runteldat.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Once again, The Mo’Kelly Report was already way out in front of the story.  You can read about it after the fact in the news…or you can read about it in The Mo’Kelly Report.

Just sayin’…

Full story HERE

In fact, the Chicago Sun-Times did a SECOND story, outlining some of the more outrageous expenses.

Second story HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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For those outside of Chicago, the Stroger name is probably an

Todd Stroger

unfamiliar name.  For those inside the Windy City…his/their (John and son Todd are  often one degree of separation from major corruption.

Coincidence?

From the Chicago Sun-Times in 2003 (Reprint of story HERE.)

Until September, Stroger had one of his top 8th Ward precinct captains, Bill Granberry, as Forest Preserves maintenance director for $90,000 a year. The Sun-Times reported that the district kept a fleet of five special outhouses that came out just once a year for Stroger’s annual picnic — at a time when other commissioners were clamoring for cleaner outhouses. Granberry resigned. Stroger said he never knew about the outhouse arrangement.

To replace Granberry, Stroger chose a member of his ward organization, LeRoy Taylor, controversial with some co-workers because he was promoted to regional superintendent when longer-serving workers were laid off. Taylor, a retired deputy commissioner for the Chicago Water Department, has donated $2,145 to Stroger, the 8th Ward organization and Stroger’s son’s campaigns since 2001. Taylor also was given a coveted Forest Preserve home in Beverly.

Bylina said he and Stroger talked about Taylor replacing Granberry. Bylina insisted the appointment be on an “acting” basis until Taylor demonstrates he can handle the position.

“I think he’s got the experience, the exposure, the knowledge of the preserves,” Bylina said. Whether he gets the permanent job remains to be seen, he said.

“Oh, he’ll get the permanent position,” one mid-level Forest Preserve official said. “Stroger won’t let that go to anyone but an 8th-Warder.”

In 2001, another top 8th-Warder, Mezell Williams, resigned as the Forest Preserves’ $99,000-a-year chief financial officer on the eve of a hearing where he was to explain how the district amassed a nearly $20 million deficit. The district raided land acquisition and maintenance funds for day-to-day operations. Stroger said the district had little choice because tax caps limited its ability to raise taxes or float bonds.

In a step many board members praised, Stroger replaced Williams with Barbara McKinzie, an accountant with a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University.

(Another story had it this way…)

Readers…this is called, “connecting the dots.”

Carla Oglesby

Well, it seems now another Stroger “associate/employee” is in serious trouble.  Recently ANOTHER Stroger aide, Carla Oglesby…Stroger’s deputy chief of staff was ARRESTED and charged with stealing more than $300,000 from taxpayers in a scheme to award sham contracts, including some to firms she owned but for which she did no work.

Carla Oglesby, 41, Stroger’s deputy chief of staff, was ordered held on $250,000 bail Tuesday after she was charged with three felonies: theft of government property and money laundering, both of over $100,000, and official misconduct. She faces up to 30 years in prison in connection with the allegations, some of which were first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times in March.

Full story HERE.

__________

Subsequent to the original allegations against McKinzie, Cook County

Liz Gorman

Commissioner Liz Gorman alerted the aforementioned Stroger that an investigation and audit should be conducted, relative to McKinzie’s previous employment.

A former sorority staffer on Tuesday said she was fired after alerting the Illinois attorney general’s office to alleged financial abuses at the group’s Chicago headquarters. “In light of these allegations, I am very concerned of the possible misuse of funds during her tenure as chief financial officer at the Forest Preserve District,” Ms. Gorman stated yesterday in a letter to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Ms. McKinzie was the district’s Chief Financial Officer from 2001-2004 and also has served in financial management positions at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. and the Chicago Housing Authority.

When she was County Board President, Bobbie Steele, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, signed a $12,000 consultant contract with Ms. McKinzie to help draft a budget and provide other financial advice. That budget never materialized.

Story HERE.

The latest is that Oglesby also has the unmitigated gall to file for unemployment after being fired/arrested for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to her OWN company.

Story HERE.

Let’s bring it all together now.  Oglesby, besides paying her own dummy companies (not registered with the state) also is accused of not doing any work for the $24,995 contracts she awarded “herself.”  Sound familiar?

Stroger accepted her resignation today as deputy chief of staff. She had been the spokeswoman for Stroger’s failed Democratic primary re-election campaign. Stroger put her on the county payroll after his loss.

Prosecutors say an investigation into more than a dozen no-bid contracts awarded by Oglesby found that little or no legitimate work was performed by any of the companies, including two controlled by her. (Click HERE for details of the charges.)

The loss to the county from the contracts exceeds $300,000, prosecutors said during the bond hearing for Oglesby, 41, who is charged with theft of government property, money laundering and official misconduct. (Get details of the allegations against Oglesby here)

One of Oglesby’s companies, CGC Communications, was awarded a $24,975 contract to inform county residents of federal grant money available to those affected by heavy flooding in 2008.

The contract was paid up-front, and CGC later tried to justify the contract by claiming credit for outreach efforts spearheaded by a member of Stroger’s press office.

In a second contract highlighted by prosecutors, a county official expressed concern to Oglesby and “Public Official C” — identified as a Stroger media representative — about a contract he was asked to authorize.

The county official agreed to sign after Public Official C pressured him, and the money was traced to Arrei, a company controlled by Oglesby, prosecutors said.

In all, Oglesby awarded or approved payments for more than a dozen no-bid contracts. In at least two instances, contractors returned checks to the county because they hadn’t performed any work, prosecutors said.

Story HERE.

Stroger, McKinzie, fraud, arrests and/or investigations over contracts to cronies for work never done.

Coincidence?

Fraud usually never is…

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Ruth Major

MOTION UPDATE 7.12.10 -

Per the attached ruling, Alpha Kappa Alpha must produce a person TOMORROW 7.13.10 at 9:00am  with custody of the check registers or be held in contempt!

Click HERE

UPDATE:  WATCH THE PUBLIC MEETING WEBCAST HERE.

__________

Attorney Ruth Major is at the center of two cases confronting Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  The first is the wrongful termination of former employee Kenitra Shackelford and the other is serving as counsel for former Supreme Basileus Julia Brogdon Purnell in her fight to get AKA to open up its books and records for review.

This week marks the biennial Boule and before the doors close to the public, The Mo’Kelly Report is going to set it off one last time for you the listeners to get the real deal.  Despite how many times I’ve reviewed the documents and interviewed participants, I learn something new each time and blown away.  Today is no different.  I’ll let Ruth Major speak for herself.  But it is in a word…incredible.

Click HERE for interview.

RELATED:

Mo’Kelly Interviews Carol Ray (one of the 8 Plaintiffs)

Mo’Kelly Interviews Kenitra Shackelford

Mo’Kelly Interviews Ed Gray, Counsel for  ‘Weeping Ivy 8′

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