An anti-police activist is facing allegations of misusing more than $75,000 in donations to fund a luxurious lifestyle that included a lavish Cancun vacation and extravagant shopping sprees. Brandon Anderson, the founder of the non-profit organization Raheem AI, is accused by the Attorney General of Washington, DC, of using charitable funds for personal gain while also failing to pay his sole employee the wages they had earned.
DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit against Anderson and Raheem AI, claiming that the funds meant for police transparency and accountability were instead used to support Anderson’s extravagant lifestyle. The lawsuit alleges that Anderson spent over $40,000 on mansion and penthouse rentals, $10,000 on personal travel, including a trip to Cancun, and $10,000 on a “clothing allowance” from luxury retailers such as Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
Raheem AI, founded by Anderson in 2017 with the goal of providing crisis responders to marginalized communities, received over $4.3 million in donations before its app project failed to materialize. Former Raheem AI staffer Jasmine Banks revealed that she discovered Anderson’s lavish spending on credit card records after the organization stopped paying her salary.
The lawsuit also accuses Anderson and Raheem AI of violating the District’s Nonprofit Corporation Act, Wage Payment and Collection Law, and Ban on Noncompete Agreements Act. It is alleged that Anderson had unrestricted control of the organization’s finances due to the absence of a treasurer since 2020, and the board of directors failed to implement oversight measures.
Banks, who was allegedly forced to sign an “illegal” noncompete clause, has not been paid “tens of thousands of dollars in earned wages” since April. She expressed her disappointment in Raheem AI and Anderson, believing it was a “con from the beginning.”
Despite the allegations, Anderson has not responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in non-profit organizations, emphasizing the need to uphold ethical practices and prioritize the well-being of employees and donors.
