Audit Suggests YMCA Defrauded County on Child Services

BRADENTON – An internal audit by Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller R.B "Chips" Shore's office has uncovered fraud by officials with the YMCA, related to after-school and gang prevention programs the non-profit was contracted to administer for the county. The report says that the officials defrauded Manatee County taxpayers at least $100,000, with as much as $175,000 being called into question.

Anonymous complaints about billing in the program spawned the investigation and audit, which also found that staff in the county's Community Services Department who were assigned to administer and monitor the funding agreements "failed to adequately perform their duties.”

The audit found a wide range of fraudulent practices by YMCA staff, including falsified documents given to auditors to support payments for the “Y-Dash” Harllee Middle School Program, replicated student sign-in sheets and billing for dates prior to the program's initiation.

Incorrect numbers were also reported in billing for the Gang Prevention program, with the county billed for days when schools were closed and for work supposedly done by employees who were not working on those days according to YMCA employment records. Incorrect numbers were also reported on monthly billings for the School Age Child Care program, with similar practices employed.

According to the report, the Manatee County Community Services Department did not conduct record reviews during the contracted years tested by the audit.

YMCA Gang Outreach Coordinator Jerry Parrish was directly accused in the report of inappropriately using funds. Parrish’s travel logs failed to provide times or purposes for various trips, with some appearing to be for personal use according to the report.

Click here to download a PDF file of the audit report.