Audit Uncovers Possible Misuse Of Grant Money By Sheriff's Office Spokesperson

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — An internal affairs investigation has been launched after the spokesperson for the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office has been suspended.

An audit uncovered the use of tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars from grant money allocated to her nonprofit organization for personal gain, the sheriff's office stated.

"Sheriff Carr said he is concerned by the allegations raised in the February audit involving Sheriff's Office communications staff member Romaine Taylor Thomas McNair," according to a statement from Carr's office. "I expect all personnel to uphold those principles and to serve the residents of Prince George's County with integrity."

According to the audit, the staff member - known as Taylor Thomas - ran The Better Family, Inc., nonprofit, which received $68,500 in county grant money over a two-year span from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, with $56,000 of those funds awarded to her while she was a county employee. In 2024, approximately half of the nonprofit's revenue came from county grants, Fox 45 reported.

"During our audit, we noted several matters involving the grant funding provided to The Better Family, Inc. that are cause for concern," the report said. "Based upon the extent of the findings outlined in this report, we recommend the discontinuance of county grant funding to The Better Family, Inc., at this time."

The audit discovered 10 transactions totaling more than $24,000 of grant money that may not have been used for the nonprofit's services, $5,750 of which was paid to the side business Thomas owns, a for-profit company called Wedding Bliss. Instead, auditors uncovered evidence that Thomas used the money for personal reasons.

The following items are listed in the audit as part of the $24,000 of questionable expenses:

• Oak Creek Golf Club, a ticketed event for its Golf Classic Program ($6,155).
• Partial payment for Sister 2 Sister fundraiser luncheon ($5,000).
• Radio advertisement for Wedding Bliss event ($5,000).
• Payment for scholarship fundraiser luncheon ticketed event ($4,000).
• Payment for Sister 2 Sister fundraiser luncheon ($1,500).
• Payment for scholarship fundraiser luncheon ticketed event ($1,000).
• Payment for photography services for the Wedding Bliss event ($750).
• Marriott Hotel stay for its Sister 2 Sister fundraiser luncheon, - a ticketed event in Richmond, VA, that is hosted by the organization ($344).
• Southwest Airlines, airfare to attend an AKA sorority membership conference ($343).

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