Braveboy investigation prompts subpoenas for records on organization tied to Prince George’s council chair

Scrutiny over the Prince George’s County Council’s grant funding intensified Thursday, with emerging reports of subpoenas for records related to an organization tied to Chair Krystal Oriadha.

Officials also announced that the council gave millions more to the local organization, Community on the Frontline, than originally thought.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Oriadha last week requested the return of $7.6 million in public funds awarded to Community on the Frontline.

The county received that amount Thursday, but the county executive and her team determined the council had given roughly $12.8 million to the organization in the previous two fiscal years.

“We expect to receive the remaining funds in the coming days,” Braveboy said in a statement.

Last week, Braveboy requested an investigation into funding the council disbursed to Community on the Frontline and its Beverly Hills, California-based fiscal sponsor, the Edward Charles Foundation.

The county’s Office of Audits and Investigations has issued subpoenas requesting that county agencies and the council’s grant office protect relevant records.

Oriadha on Thursday confirmed the council’s grants office received a subpoena requesting the preservation of documents. She said in a statement that “no Council employees were served.”

She added that she has “consistently supported a full review of the grant funding in question.”

Braveboy spokesperson Brian Fischer initially said Thursday that the county’s Office of Law had issued the subpoenas.

He later clarified that the Office of Audits and Investigations had issued the subpoenas — essentially requests for preserving records — and the Office of Law had served them.

NBC4 Washington first reported news of subpoenas Wednesday night.

Braveboy sent her investigation request to acting Auditor Larry Whitehurst and recommended that his office retain an outside firm as part of the investigation.

She specifically called for an examination of how county funds were used, documentation of services provided, outside accounts containing county funds, the amounts remaining in each and any fees the Edward Charles Foundation has charged for the support it has provided Community on the Frontline.

Whitehurst could not be reached for comment.

Braveboy called for the investigation the same day that she and Oriadha requested the return of more than $7.6 million the council had awarded to Community on the Frontline.

The organization is run by Janna Parker, Oriadha’s close friend and the godmother of her son.

Parker could not be reached for comment Thursday.

As the fiscal sponsor for Community on the Frontline, the Edward Charles Foundation has provided administrative support and held the local organization’s funds in a restricted account.

A spokesperson for the foundation could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In a statement last week, an unnamed spokesperson wrote in an email that the foundation would return the money it holds but “the final figure is being reconciled” with the county’s finance office.

This article has been updated.