A once-prominent AIDS activist and a former state rep are facing federal fraud charges in ongoing controversies related to the alleged misuse of charity funds.
Lloyd Kelly, founder of the now-defunct AIDS organization Let's Talk, Let's Test Foundation (LTLTF), and former 34th Dist. Rep. Connie Howard are named in separate federal cases pending in the Central District Court of Illinois.
Kelly formerly worked as an aid to Howard.
According to a spokesperson for the Central District Court, Howard faces frauds and swindles charges dating back to 2003-2007. Kelly faces two counts of mail fraud dating back to January 2007 for an alleged scheme to defraud the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Kelly has been facing allegations of wrongdoing during his time at LTLTF.
Windy City Times reported in 2009 that IDPH was seeking reimbursement for LTLTF grant funds that Kelly allegedly mismanaged. Kelly denied any wrongdoing at the time. He could not be reached for comment.
Sabrina Miller, a spokesperson for IDPH, said the department did pursue repayment of $523,546 from Kelly for two mismanaged grants.
"They weren't able to recover any of those funds," said Miller.
WCT also previously reported that the grants had been allocated through the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund, a legislative initiative aimed at fighting HIV in the Black community. Kelly, formerly an unpaid aid to Howard, helped conceive of the fund with Howard in 2007.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Howard pled guilty to draining $28,000 from money she raised through a separate charity golf outing between 2003-2008.
According to the Chicago Tribune, federal prosecutors allege that Kelly spent more than $217,000 in AIDS grant money on a house, football game and on interns who worked for a public official.
Kelly was arrested May 20. He was released on bond and is due for trial Oct. 1.
