WASHINGTON, D. C. – The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has reached a settlement with Ronald Moten, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Peaceoholics, Inc., to resolve allegations that the anti-gang violence organization violated the False Claims Act and misused District grant funds.

Previously, the Court entered a default judgment against Peaceoholics and Jauhar Abraham, its co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. The District claimed that Peaceoholics and Abraham improperly diverted, for unauthorized and personal uses, District grant funds intended to support youth anti-violence services. The judgment held them liable for the full amount of damages that the District sought. While alleging that Abraham had used District grant funds to purchase luxury SUVs for himself, OAG did not allege that Moten was personally enriched by the diversion of funds.

The settlement puts proper controls into place to prevent future financial mismanagement by Moten, while still allowing District youth to benefit from his experience in working to prevent violence.

“Mr. Moten has been a great asset in empowering our community’s youth, and should be able to utilize those skills, especially at a time when our city’s young people could use his talents,” Attorney General Karl A. Racine said. “We believe we have put sufficient mechanisms in place to ensure what happened at Peaceoholics does not happen again. It’s time for Mr. Moten to be cleared to do what he does best: mentor, guide, advocate and inspire our youth. I look forward to seeing Mr. Moten’s future efforts to ensure that young people have the opportunity and resources they need to develop into contributing members of our community.”

A copy of the consent judgment in the settlement is attached.