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FOX25 Investigates state-funded agency spending your tax dollars on vacations, gifts, liquor

WORCESTER, Mass. — A state agency is raising questions about how a local nonprofit agency is spending public money.

Centro Las Americas is accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on trips, golfing, alcohol, and gifts.

When FOX25 Investigates visited the agency Thursday, there were volunteers in action stocking the food pantry. The agency is a nonprofit that helps the community in a variety of ways.

But in the audit FOX25 Investigates obtained, state officials lay out accusations of how the agency spends its money. Half of Centro’s money comes from public and state agencies, and that is the money in question.

According to the state auditor’s office, Centro must reimburse the state for $57,341 that the agency spent on expenses not allowed and not related to the Centro’s social service program activities.

The audit also shows the money paid for a list of things, including:

  • Two trips to Puerto Rico
  • Golf outings
  • Liquor for a staff party
  • Gift cards with no documentation to show who received them
  • Baby shower gift for an employee

Centro’s CEO Juan Gomez told FOX25 that every expense is justified. He said the Puerto Rico trips were part of a plan to research ways to earn revenue there and bring the money back to Worcester.

“We are very committed to making sure we are good stewards of the resources that are given to us.  We dot every I and cross every T,” Gomez told FOX25.

When FOX25 asked why he wouldn’t pay the $117 used to buy liquor for a staff party out of his own pocket, Gomez responded, “You know, that’s a fair question.”

Despite that, Gomez told FOX25 the audit was flawed and they provided documentation to auditors showing every expense was justified. He said he now plans to submit that again, hoping Centro won’t have to pay the $57,000.

But auditors told FOX25 they stand behind what they found.

FOX25 shared the findings with Natalie Guzman, who uses Centro’s services to help her mother.

“It makes me upset because it's not going to where it should be going to.  It's going to other stuff,” Guzman told FOX25.