Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr. has been charged with felony counts pertaining to the embezzlement of more than $350,000 from the District of Columbia and failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in income, according to a court document released early Thursday.
The embattled councilman, who assumed office in 2007, is also accused of filing a false tax return.
According to the charging document, from early April 2007 through February 2009, Thomas diverted $353,000 from his nonprofit Team Thomas group for his own personal use. The money, which had been provided by the city, was earmarked for youth sports programs.
The court document also states that as part of the theft charges, Thomas will be required to forfeit a 2008 Victory Motorcycle and a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe that were allegedly obtained using stolen funds.
Thomas, 51, is also accused of not reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in income between 2007 and 2009. Documents allege that Thomas did not report $25,000 worth of income in 2007, $278,000 in 2008 and $43,000 in 2009.
Reports state that Thomas is expected to resign and in doing so, will strike a plea deal with prosecutors that could garner him a lighter prison term.
