The head of a nonprofit that kicked back city grant money to former D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court Friday and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors on taking down others involved in the scandal.
Marshall Banks, a 71-year-old Howard University professor, pleaded guilty to one charge of “misprison of felony,” which is a charge related to stealing via programs that receive federal funds. Banks headed up the nonprofit Langston 21st Century Foundation, a nonprofit Thomas used to funnel city grant money meant for kids to his own wallet, according to prosecutors.
Banks’ plea hearing lasted nearly one hour and he stood through much of the hearing with his hands placed upon a podium, wearing a dark suit and blue tie with white polka dots. According to prosecutors, Thomas approached Banks and Banks’ associate Jimmy Garvin about directing $400,000 in city grant money to Langston 21 to spend on youth baseball programs. Thomas said he needed a nonprofit to direct the money to his entities Team Thomas and HLT Development so that money could be spent in his Ward 5. Garvin was the general manager of the Langston Gold Course in Ward 5.
