An Erie County legislator is formally requesting the New York State Comptroller conduct an independent review of the African American Cultural Center's finances, while the Erie County Executive said the matter will be referred to the State Attorney General's Office.
Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, a Republican who represents the 10th District, has asked for the investigation in a letter submitted to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Her request comes following findings by Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick's office (D).
According to the county comptroller report, the AACC received $787,400 in Cultural Grant Funding from 2020 to 2022. But more than $350,000 of that was overpaid, and the comptroller ordered it returned.
The problem is, the institution could not come up with the records to account for any of the money.
"Typically when these audits are done, we find small errors, maybe bookkeeping errors, things like that, especially when it's these nonprofit organizations that have very small staff," Lorigo said. "In this situation, we were told that there was not even a bank account that could be found, not a credit card, you know, statement, or anything like that, which is highly unusual."
County Executive Mark Poloncarz (D), in a written statement, said the county is asking the New York Attorney General's Office to look in as well.
“The County has reviewed the audit conducted by the Erie County Comptroller's Office of the African American Cultural Center and finds many of the allegations very concerning," Poloncarz said. "Due to the seriousness of some of the allegations, we are referring the matter to the New York State Attorney General Office's Charities, Nonprofits and Fundraisers Bureau for further review."
Poloncarz added that the county did not provide any assistance to the AACC last year, and has not allocated any funding for it in the 2026 budget.
Lorigo welcomed the request for the attorney general to also investigate.
"I think that is just as relevant and a good place for it to go as well. But I do think that we need to have further auditing done on this matter, so that we can figure out where the money is and how the county can get it back," she said.
AACC Board Chair Thembi Duncan told BTPM NPR the board is actively addressing the audit's findings but has no further comment at this time. An email requesting comment has also been sent to the center's current Executive Director, Leah Angel Daniel.
The county audit acknowledges that the organization's leadership attributed missing records to alleged "pilfering" by former staff and board members, and poor record-keeping.
As written within the report: "AACC’s current leadership reported that they lack access to the organization’s former bank accounts and historical financial records, preventing them from explaining how County funds were received, managed, or expended during the review periods.
"During a site visit and interviews with new leadership, the Auditor was informed of circumstances suggesting potential misappropriation of funds under the prior administration. Checks were allegedly issued directly to former board members or staff who exercised financial control at the time. Combined with the lack of segregation of duties, the absence of procurement policies, and missing expenditure documentation, these conditions significantly increase the risk of fraud, waste, or abuse."
Hardwick has also recommended that the New York State Attorney General investigate and that the matter be referred to local law enforcement for evaluation of potential criminal misconduct.
