Founded in 1957 by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) has been continuously plagued with in-fighting, shifting leadership, accusations of blatant sexism and financial woes.

Originating as a protest movement, it has often times been overshadowed by the NAACP, and when it does garner media coverage, it's rarely to highlight the positive aspects of the historic organization.

Unfortunately, Reverend Raleigh Trammell's alleged criminal activities have kept that tradition alive.

The former national chairman of the Atlanta-based civil rights organization was indicted Wednesday in Ohio on one count of grand theft and 25 counts each of forgery and tampering with government records.

From 2005 to 2010, Trammell, as president of the local chapter, allegedly misappropriated funds allocated by Montgomery County for their Home Delivered Meals program to his own wallet.

Raleigh Trammell indicted on 51 felony counts: wdtn.com

According to the prosecution's spokesman Greg Flannagan, Trammell and the SCLC and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, entered into contracts with Montgomery County Job and Family Services to deliver nutritious meals to low-income senior citizens.

And I thought stealing candy from a baby was evil.

"This defendant abused his position of trust and hid behind his title and position in order to perpetrate these crimes," Prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr. said in a statement. "Not only did he steal taxpayer money, but he denied meals as promised to elderly and frail citizens in our community."

The state of Ohio also withdrew funding for a youth anti-violence program operated Trammell's daughter, Angela Goodwin, after the SCLC could not prove that it provided services or account for its spending.

In all, the SCLC and IMA lost at least $418,533 in public funding last year. The two groups have received nearly $4.4 million in public funding since 1988.

Sarah Schenck, supervisor of the consumer fraud unit of the prosecutor's office, said the grand theft charge stems from the total amount of meals not delivered, and the tampering charges allege Trammell signed off on delivery of meals that weren't delivered. The forgery charges stem from contracts signed to provide those services.

Bishop Richard Cox, current president of the Dayton SCLC chapter, said Wednesday that he could not judge Trammell and that he and the community need to wait for the charges "to play out in court."

"It saddens you because he did some great work at one time in the community," Cox said. "I hope that people won't judge the current SCLC by actions that may have occurred in the past."

National SCLC Chairman Sylvia Tucker said she was not concerned that the indictment would affect SCLC's image.

"We have always tried to do the right thing," she said, declining further comment.

SCLC leaders work to win public trust: wdtn.com

Following up on reports of suspicious behavior, the Dayton Daily News investigated the SCLC and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, led by Rev. Wilburt Shanklin. The findings were both extensive and disturbing:

- The SCLC/IMA failed to provide meals to people who were supposed to be fed in a program funded by the Montgomery County Human Services Levy.

- The groups were getting Federal Emergency Management Agency money for a battered womens' shelter and food pantry that did not exist.

- The IMA had falsely claimed federal tax exempt status using a Columbus Baptist group's tax identification number without permission.

- The SCLC could not document its spending for a county-funded social services program operated under subcontract with the Urban League of Greater Dayton.

Financial issues aside, the embattled former civil rights leader has also been accused of sexual harassment by Dayton SCLC employee, DaMisha Douglas. She filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in August, and a jury trial is scheduled for September. In June, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission found probable cause that the SCLC allowed discrimination against Douglas.

This is not the first time discrimination has been alleged within the SCLC. Both Septima Clark and Ella Baker, members of the organization, have been vocal about the sexism they faced, primarily from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hoping to salvage the organization's reputation, Trammell was removed from leadership at both local and national after allegations that Trammell and former SCLC national treasurer Spiver Gordon had misappropriated at least $569,000 in national funds ignited contentious in-fighting. The FBI is also investigating those allegations.

This is pathetic, embarrassing, and unethical.

African-American people have longed looked to our leaders to be honest and productive. In the face of the systemic discrimination and subjugation we have battled in this country, we expect our trusted leaders to fight for us, not against us.

We don't expect them to steal from our mothers and fathers.

These Orwellian antics serve only serve to fuel the stereo-type that has haunted us since slavery: "Black people steal." It is shameful that African-Americans leaders look at the capitalist agendas and under the table dealings of the status quo, and attempt to mirror their criminal actions.

We know better.

We, more than most, know how it feels to be hungry. We understand the helplessness of living our entire lives providing for our children, only to realize that we didn't save enough to survive our last years. Our elderly citizens deserve to be honored and cherished, not used as a pawn to line a thief's pockets.

I don't care that he's African American, nor that he's elderly himself. His actions are unconscionable, and he deserves to be punished.

While it is unfortunate that our discriminatory judicial system will ensure that his penalty is harsher than a white counterpart committing the same crime, if that is the price he must pay for his actions, then so be it.

Our leaders owe it to us to strive for a higher standard of conduct than the powers we passionately fight against, and we owe it to ourselves to demand it. If they don't, what are they fighting for?

If we don't, we're not only just as culpable for the injustices and indignities our people face, but twice as hypocritical.