Pics are from documents from POGO.org. The following information is from POGO.org website:
In Appendix G, eleven were labeled as either “Previous Congressional Earmark” or “AAG Approved National Program.” Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services was called anti-gang initiative [see pic above]. It was labeled "Previous Congressional Earmark."
Appendix I: 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grant Awards, Bureau of Justice Assistance Website
In Appendix I, Ohio OCJS received a $296,168 FY2007 Byrne Discretionary Grant described as helping to aid the City of Columbus’ anti-gang initiative [see pic].
In Appendix I, Ohio OCJS received a $296,168 FY2007 Byrne Discretionary Grant described as helping to aid the City of Columbus’ anti-gang initiative [see pic].
According to propublica.org: In 2007, Congress gave the Justice Department about $150 million for the Byrne program, along with the discretion to choose where to spend it. This policy broke away from Congress' previous tradition of allowing lawmakers to earmark the funds for thier favored groups.
Under Domingo Herraiz's leadership, it didn't happen that way. Of course, Herraiz has denied any wrong doing and point the finger to his staff who he claim made the grant decision making on Ohio OCJS. Sounds familiar. That is exactly what OJJDP Administrator Flores said about the grant decision making on the questionable grants funded to political and religious favorites.
What was Herraiz's prior position before being appointed as the Director of BJA?:
Herraiz, was a top official in the Ohio attorney general's office between the years 2000-03, running their Office of Criminal Justice Services. This was the time period roughly coincides with the Ohio "Coingate" scandal, when the state's pension fund, the Bureau of Worker's Compensation, invested millions in a rare coin fund managed by a prominent GOP fund-raiser. That scandal involved fraud with state money, political cronyism, alleged kickbacks and a federal investigation of illegal contributions to President Bush. GOP insider and fundraiser and Tom Noe was indicted, convicted, and sentenced to 27 months in prison.
In August 17, 2005, Ohio Governor Bob Taft [Herraiz's boss] was charged with four criminal misdemeanors stemming from his failure to disclose golf outings paid for by lobbyists, as well as some undisclosed gifts.
On July 10, 2003, Taft Announced of Herraiz from his position to Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). Click here to view Taft's press release. That same day, Bush announced his intent to nominate Herraiz as the Director of the BJA. Herraiz was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 8, 2004.
