South Bay Examiner
  • Local news
  • News
  • Business
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Things to Do
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram
South Bay Examiner
Button
  • Local news
  • News
  • Business
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Things to Do
South Bay Examiner
Home » Watts activist named in suit alleging fraud at SoCal food bank
Billionaire Rick Caruso watches as "Sweet" Alice Harris speaks to a crowd during his 2022 campaign for Los Angeles mayor.

Watts activist named in suit alleging fraud at SoCal food bank

0
By Emilie St. John on April 9, 2025 Local news
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

It is being reported that a Southern California nonprofit based in Long Beach, California, is facing state scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating $11 million in state funds.

The Foodbank of Southern California has been around for five decades and is being accused of misspending the state funds on a lavish lifestyle, including trips to Las Vegas, cars, jewelry and issuing funds to members of its board of directors.

“For at least the last decade, the Foodbank’s officers, directors, and vendors worked together to divert millions of dollars of state and federal funds away from these most vulnerable communities, into their own pockets,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit names ten current or former board members and two of their family members. The nonprofit has since scrubbed its website of the board members’ names.

Caught in the complaint’s crosshairs is Watts activist “Sweet” Alice Harris, who founded Parents of Watts, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting disadvantaged youth and families in Watts who is listed as a member of its board.

The lawsuit alleges that Harris used her position on the food bank’s board to funnel more than $173,000 in funding to Parents of Watts.

Harris allegedly used her status on the food bank’s board to send $172,896 to the Parents of Watts, according to the complaint. State attorneys also claim that she used the Foodbank of Southern California’s accounts to send donations to Parents of Watts and to buy bicycles, gift cards, suits and turkeys for her social services organization. The civil complaint also outlined a claim that she used the food bank’s accounts to send $2,000 to her family member’s organization, Just Caring for Folks. 

Investigators also claimed she hired her granddaughter, Johnetta Woods, for a federally funded position at the food bank. State officials said Woods received regular payments from the nonprofit but did not provide any services. 

The state lawsuit outlines allegations that she used her position at the food bank to grant her son-in-law Egerton Forster a spot on the board and to appoint him as the nonprofit’s interim CEO in 2020.

In the ensuing year, Forster allegedly sent $50,000 to his wife’s company, Seek HM1, without board approval and in violation of the nonprofit’s bylaws, according to the complaint. State officials said Forster’s wife, Linda Forster, is Harris’s daughter.

He’s also accused of sending $14,000 to Watts Willowbrook Church, where he held a leadership position, according to state attorneys.

Last June, Harris was honored by Los Angeles Councilman Tim McOsker with a Watts intersection being dedicated in her honor.

In 2015, Harris received a Community Leadership Award from California State University, Dominguez Hills, during its CSUDH Founders Dinner but the announcement has been removed from the school’s website.

Harris has not publicly commented on the matter.

Share this:

  • Post

Like this:

Like Loading...
"Sweet" Alice Harris Foodbank of Southern California Long Beach Watts
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Owners displaced by Intuit Dome start developing new Inglewood hotel

May 17, 2025

Developer enters exclusive negotiation agreement with City to bring workforce housing to downtown Inglewood

May 17, 2025

Landlords could be required to provide fridges, stoves under proposed state law

April 9, 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Arts & Culture

Echo Theater Company announces winners of 2024 New Play Competition

May 17, 2025

Latino Theater Company celebrates 40 yearsof theater and community with ambitious 2025 season

March 1, 2025

Review: ‘Alabaster’

February 25, 2025

PJ Morton, Will Downing to headline Dymally International Jazz & Arts Festival April 26

February 6, 2025
Entertainment

Evolving on My Own Terms: Embracing My Journey as an Artist, Entrepreneur, Innovator, and Creator

February 24, 2025

FireAid Concert On-Demand for a Year, Steve Ballmer will Continue to Match Donations

February 7, 2025

Hasbro Enhances the MONOPOLY Play Experience With Evolution of the Classic Game and New Ways to Play

January 7, 2025

Lil Wayne, Chris Brown and Marshmello Allegedly Misused Pandemic Grants to Pay Themselves or Throw Lavish Parties

December 18, 2024
Real Estate

Developer enters exclusive negotiation agreement with City to bring workforce housing to downtown Inglewood

May 17, 2025

Apartments being converted from office buildings reaches record high

February 18, 2025
Travel

SPIRIT AIRLINES CARRY-ON FEE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: CLAIM SUBMISSION NOW OPEN

November 14, 2023

Auburn University’s The Laurel Hotel & Spa receives coveted AAA Five Diamond Award for 2023

November 10, 2023

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offering special service to San Diego

July 13, 2023

Things to Do: Bahamas is the perfect destination for your summer vacation!

July 3, 2023
Lifestyle

New data reveals that cigarettes cost $11.71 a pack in California

May 21, 2025

Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding responds to Hims & Hers Super Bowl Ad

February 7, 2025

Pepsi® kicks off iconic Pepsi Challenge with Pepsi Zero Sugar during Super Bowl weekend

February 6, 2025

Tribal Casinos initiate suit against California Cardrooms under special interest legislation SB 549

January 3, 2025
Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Contact
  • DMCA
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2025 South Bay Examiner | Site by The Web Lab

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

%d