Augusta mayoral candidate Lori Myles reportedly kept no records of how she spent more than $185,000 that belonged to a local chapter of a national renowned organization dedicated to empowering Black women and girls.
The unbridled spending came to light after a judge put a receiver onto the trail of the finances of the 100 Black Women of Augusta because of a civil lawsuit filed in Richmond County Superior Court by chapter officer and member Barbara Gordon against Myles.
Gordon’s only purpose in filing the suit was to force Myers to open financial information which she had been holding secret from other members, Gordon said this week.
Myles first incorporated the local chapter of 100 Black Women in June 2012 with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Although named the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Augusta, it wasn’t officially affiliated with the national organization. It lacked the necessary steps for official and legal recognition – an organizational meeting, election of a board of directors and bylaws.
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On Oct. 13, 2016, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women issued a cease-and-desist demand letter to the local group.
“The ongoing conflict and lack of cooperation from the members and board of the NCBW Augusta, the lack of any discernible resolution of the internal conflict, and the high number of calls and emails being sent back and forth indicate continuing chaos with no end in sight. Further, in its current state, NCBW Augusta brings no value to its community or the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated,” part of the letter reads.
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Four months later, the receiver appointed for Gordon’s civil lawsuit found only $171 remained in the local chapter’s bank accounts. The receiver found fewer than five receipts, although the bank records revealed continuance use as more than $45,000 was withdrawn in cash and by ATM, and nearly $62,625 was listed in debit card charges. Most the remainder of the money left the bank accounts via check payments, although it appeared to the receiver that none of the checks had the necessary two signatures, only Myles’ signature.
The chapter’s monies included a federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for $70,151.
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After reviewing the receiver’s report and conducting an additional hearing, then Chief Judge Carl C. Brown Jr. ordered in January 2019 that Myles repay the money spent through checks written on the bank accounts. He also ruled the local chapter was no longer a viable organization and ordered it dissolved.
Myles disagreed with the judge’s findings and final order, but she did not pursue an appeal.
She also failed to repay any of the money, Gordon said. She was shocked to see the listing of withdrawals from the bank accounts – several hundred dollars at a time day after day, Gordon said.
She was also surprised the federal government took no steps to investigate what happened to the federal grant money, Gordon said.
Myles is a current mayoral candidate. She previously ran for the seat of commission District 3 in 2020, for commission District 10 in 2018 and for mayor in 2014.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
