Kamala Harris files suit in scam that targeted black Southern California churches

February 28, 2011 By 1 Comment


Attorney General Kamala Harris filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, February 28, in the hopes of helping a group of California churches recoup money that was lost in an alleged scam.  image

More than 30 black churches in Southern California leased computer kiosks from Television Broadcasting Online Ltd., Urban Interfaith Network, Willie Perkins, Michael Morris, Wayne Wilson, Tanya Wilson, Balboa Capital Corp. and United Leasing Associates of America Ltd.

The kiosks were supposed to enhance the church experience for members of the congregations, but the equipment was unreliable and the churches paid high monthly fees.

“This was a cruel and hypocritical scheme,’’ said Harris.  “The perpetrators preyed on institutions of faith. Let this be a lesson to others who may look to defraud our community organizations: You will be caught and you will be held accountable.’‘

Of the 33 churches persuaded to sign leases, 24 of them are located in Los Angeles County. 

Harris’s lawsuit seeks compensation and civil penalties of more than $800,000. 

Read the official complaint here. 

Photo credit: Kaitlin Parker

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Kamala Harris opens South L.A. office

October 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment


imagePhoto by Daphne Bradford

Kamala Harris was in Los Angeles on Sunday to open her L.A. field office in her bid to become the first African-American woman elected to statewide office in California. The San Francisco district attorney is running against her L.A. counterpart, Republican Steve Cooley. The candidates are polar opposites on many issues: Cooley is a veteran prosecutor who has built his reputation on fighting corruption; Harris is a reformer and has made a cornerstone of her career reducing the recidivism rate among prison inmates. Cooley supports the death penalty; Harris opposes it. (Click here for a Q&A on KALW on where Harris and Cooley stand on the death penalty). About the only issue on which they find common ground is their opposition to legalizing marijuana.

Harris’ Los Angeles office is located at 5442 Crenshaw Boulevard.

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