United States Attorney Sally Yates announces that a federal grand jury has indicted State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), over allegations claiming he misappropriated more than $1 million in charitable funds, Thursday, May 16, 2013 in Atlanta. Brooks was charged Thursday with 30 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and false tax returns. Mark Giuliano, left, special agent in charge FBI Atlanta Field Office, looks on.ATLANTA – Georgia state Rep. Tyrone Brooks has been charged in a 30-count federal grand jury indictment with mail fraud, wire fraud and filing false tax returns, U.S. District Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Thursday.
The allegations involve the Atlanta Democrat’s relationship with Universal Humanities, a charity he founded in 1990, and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials. The organization is made up of state and local lawmakers, and Brooks was elected president of the group in 1993.
The indictment alleges that Brooks, 67, solicited more than $1 million in contributions from the mid-1990s to 2012 from individuals and corporate donors to fight illiteracy in underserved communities and other causes.
Authorities say Brooks, who was first elected to the General Assembly in 1981, used the money for personal and family expenses, ranging from home repairs to credit card bills.
When reached by phone, Brooks told The Associated Press that he was “not speaking about anything until I talk to my lawyer.”