Nonprofit Director Charged with Wire Fraud

PHILADELPHIA—William Mackey was charged today by information with wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Mackey ran a nonprofit called City-Wide Youth Leadership Agency in North Philadelphia. City-Wide received City of Philadelphia grants that were financially administered by third party nonprofits designated as City-Wide’s “fiscal agents.”

According to the information, in 2007, Mackey committed wire fraud by cashing a check payable to a former fiscal agent knowing that neither he nor City-Wide had any right to the money. The $24,000 check from the School District of Philadelphia had been mistakenly sent to City-Wide. The information describes how the cashing of this check was part of an ongoing scheme in which Mackey knowingly passed bad checks, cashed checks written to other businesses and nonprofits, counterfeited checks, and stole money by writing unauthorized checks to obtain goods, services, and money for himself and his organization.

It is further alleged that between 2006 and 2009, Mackey negotiated, attempted, and aided and abetted the negotiation of approximately $157,000 in fraudulent checks and wire transfers and caused losses in excess of approximately $180,000.

Information Regarding the Defendant

Name: William Mackey

Address: Philadelphia, PA

Age: 49

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prision, a fine of up to $250,000, a three-year period of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by the FBI and by the City of Philadelphia, including the District Attorney’s Office, the Inspector General’s Office, and the Mayor’s Integrity Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Foa and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Inden.

An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.