FBI Investigation of Alabama Scout Council Membership Audit to be Released Soon


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Thursday, March 09, 2006
KELLI HEWETT TAYLOR
News staff writer

North and central Alabama Boy Scout leaders are scheduled to meet tonight in Cullman to discuss the upcoming release of a membership audit and a related FBI investigation.

The audit findings are expected to be released at end of the month, according to John Hayden, the 2006 board chairman of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts.

"This meeting is trying to get the district commissioners to know it's coming and to be knowledgeable enough to answer questions," said Hayden, of Huntsville. "We are definitely not going to be dodging anybody."

The probes began about a year ago, after allegations that the Greater Alabama Council was padding its membership numbers to boost federal and local grant money. The GAC covers 22 counties.

Similar cases have been found in places such as Georgia, Texas and Florida.

"We have asked them to be extremely specific of any violations, especially geographically," Hayden said. "We want to be able to cure them if there are any."

The audit had been expected in January. Hayden said one reason for the delay was the reassignment of FBI agents to the recent Alabama church fire investigation.

Meanwhile, the United Way of Central Alabama is holding nearly $20,000 in 2006 grant money, pending a favorable outcome from the scout audit and investigation.

"We have not heard anything from the Boy Scouts," said United Way spokeswoman Samuetta Nesbitt. "We are waiting on them."