North Louisiana Nonprofit Director Arrested for Stealing State Funds Meant for Kids

Instead of helping kids in North Louisiana get ahead in school, a local nonprofit director is accused of spending state grant money on a personal car, jewelry, vacations, and her personal bills.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office says state investigators have arrested 35-year-old Jazmine King of Blanchard. She ran the nonprofit agency called Divine Kingdom Ministries in Caddo Parish.

State lawmakers ok'd spending $75,000 for the agency to help the nonprofit provide academic support and life skills training for young people. Divine Kingdom got the first payment of $37,500 as an advance to an account that King managed by herself.

How Did Authorities Find Out About the Suspected Theft

Red flags went up almost immediately when state treasury staff reviewed King's spending reports. They noted suspicious cash withdrawals, missing receipts, an Airbnb stay, and payments King gave herself as a salary without keeping track of any hours worked.

State investigators starting doing a deeper dive and found that the public money was being spent on personal luxuries rather than helping children. According to the Attorney General's office, King used the grant funds to pay off her car note, car insurance, personal credit cards, utility bills, and travel expenses. She's also accused of buying jewelry and even an unauthorized car. She also wrote checks to people for work that was never actually done.

Attorney General Liz Murrill says “Instead of enriching the lives of young people in north Louisiana, King appears to have used the hard-earned tax dollars of the men and women of Louisiana to enrich herself instead.

State Inspector General Angele Davis praised the teamwork between the Treasury, the Inspector General's office, and investigators that brought the misuse to light.

King was taken into custody without incident on a warrant and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on felony charges of theft and filing false public records.