Hartford Nonprofit Grand Jury Investigates Senator's Personal Ties to Grant Recipient

Federal Investigation into Grant Distribution in Hartford

Federal authorities have issued grand jury subpoenas, requiring the state to provide extensive records as part of an investigation into potential irregularities in the distribution of tens of millions of dollars in government grants to social service and business nonprofit organizations in Hartford. The probe is focused on whether these funds were distributed fairly and transparently.

In particular, federal prosecutors are interested in “all documents concerning any personal or non-professional relationship” between two prominent figures in the Hartford nonprofit scene: State Senator Douglas McCrory, D-Bloomfield, and Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin, who runs a nonprofit consulting business through the SHEBA Resource Center. Multiple acquaintances of McCrory and Cicero-Hamlin have stated that the two recently lived together in a $780,000 home in Bloomfield.

The state revealed that it had received subpoenas from the grand jury late last week, which were served on the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Minority Business Initiative, a business development program within the department. These subpoenas include requests for all agendas and minutes of Minority Business Initiative Advisory Council meetings.

McCrory has previously sat on the advisory board during a period when the council was considering millions of dollars in grants or loans for Cicero-Hamlin’s business. Both McCrory and Cicero-Hamlin have declined to comment on the matter.

While the state acknowledged receiving the subpoenas, federal agents were also seen serving additional ones in Hartford. Among those targeted was the nonprofit Legacy Foundation of Hartford, whose mission is to eliminate disparities in health and education by providing academic and experiential learning opportunities to underrepresented students.

Subpoenas have been issued to several other nonprofits as well. It is important to note that a subpoena is not an accusation of wrongdoing but rather a formal request for information. Combined with insights from individuals familiar with the investigation, the subpoenas suggest that federal authorities are examining how recipients of state and federal grants were selected and whether the grants came with conditions such as hiring specific individuals or contracting with consultants.

The grand jury is also seeking all documents related to any factual misrepresentation or omissions used to obtain or attempt to obtain grants, loans, or funding. In addition, they want records of all communications between state officials involved in the grant award process and McCrory, Cicero-Hamlin, and other key figures in the nonprofit sector.

This includes communications with Vickie Galon-Clark, who previously led the Blue Hills Civic Association; Mary Young, program director at the Upper Albany Neighborhood Collaborative; Sabrina Tucker-Barrett, president and CEO of Girls for Technology; Howard K. Hill, founder of the Prosperity Foundation; Greg Jones, founder of the Legacy Foundation; Kim Hawkins, president and CEO of HEDCO; and Ira Revels, founder of And Wellness.

The investigation also extends to KTH Advisors, a Hartford-based consulting firm run by Kevin T. Henry. Federal authorities are requesting all records and communications involving grants and loans connected to this firm.

The Department of Economic and Community Development distributes government grants and loans to numerous groups for various purposes, including economic development, community renewal, and historic preservation. While the Minority Business Initiative operates within the department, it functions under an advisory council composed of community leaders, small business owners, and professionals in business development.

Notably, McCrory and Howard K. Hill, founder of the Prosperity Foundation, are among the members of the advisory council. State grant money is not always awarded directly to nonprofits. In some cases, the department gives money to one organization, which then redirects a portion to another.

A notable example occurred in April 2022, when the Minority Business Initiative approved a $300,000 grant to one of Cicero-Hamlin’s SHEBA-related companies. During the same time, the Department of Economic and Community Development approved a $5 million payment to Girls for Technology, a nonprofit focused on empowering women in tech and entrepreneurship. Records show that Girls for Technology later paid SHEBA the first of two $1 million installments, which were intended to cover work SHEBA performed as a contractor for the organization.

The nature of the contract work remains unclear from the available records, and officials at the department were unable to provide an immediate explanation. Representatives from SHEBA and Girls for Technology either declined to comment or were unavailable for further discussion. Additional funding for SHEBA was also reported, either directly or indirectly.