A former executive of a non-profit organization in the Chicago area has admitted guilt in a federal fraud case involving $1.8 million meant for underprivileged youth programs. Barbara Harris, who served as the Executive Director of the Center for Community Academic Success Partnerships (CCASP), confessed to her involvement in misappropriating funds.
Harris worked with Tony Bell, another CCASP executive, from 2012 to 2017. They submitted grant applications that exaggerated CCASP’s projected expenses and falsely stated that five subcontractors would provide services. Harris acknowledged that these subcontractors, two run by herself and Bell, did not actually offer any services to CCASP. This scheme resulted in an actual loss of approximately $1.8 million to the Illinois Department of Education.
In addition to this scheme, Harris admitted participating in another fraudulent activity between 2021 and 2023 involving the federally funded AmeriCorps VISTA program while she was Co-Executive Director of South Suburban Community Services (SSCS). She submitted grant applications falsely claiming VISTA members would develop economic programs for Chicago's south suburbs when they were used for existing job training and violence prevention initiatives instead. This caused a loss of $98,699 to the VISTA program.
Harris, aged 55 from South Holland, Illinois, pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025, to wire fraud charges. U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood scheduled her sentencing for July 11, 2025.
The announcement was made by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; John F. Woolley from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General; Douglas S. DePodesta from the FBI's Chicago Field Office; Ramsey Covington from IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago; and Stephen Ravas from AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General also contributed valuable assistance in this case.
Tony Bell, aged 64 from Matteson, Illinois, has entered a not guilty plea regarding charges including conspiracy and wire fraud and is awaiting trial. It is important to note that his indictment is not proof of guilt; he remains innocent until proven otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt.