PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — City records show that over the past decade, several Providence agencies and city funds donated more than $65,000 to the youth track-and-field team that a city councilman allegedly stole from.
Councilman Kevin Jackson was arrested May 11 on charges that he used campaign contributions for personal expenses and embezzled more than $127,000 from the Providence Cobras, a program he founded.
Officials say the single biggest city source for the Cobras was City Council itself, which provided over $26,000 total to the program between July 2005 and July 2013.
Donations to the program also came from Providence’s Recreation Department and the mayor’s office, among other sources.
Most of the grants didn’t require applications. It’s unclear whether Jackson used his influence to direct funds to the program.
Jackson’s attorney declined to comment.
