AUSTIN (January 6, 2013)--At least $26,000 is missing from a Texas holiday charity that’s now under investigation, officials said.
Last month, the Attorney General's Office filed a lawsuit alleging misconduct by Christmas Bureau of Austin and Travis County officials and a judge froze the nonprofit's assets while the investigation continues.
The Christmas Bureau works with an Austin police program, Blue Santa, to provide holiday gifts to needy families.
A criminal background check was never done on the organization's president, Shon Washington, who had three theft convictions before being hired.
He's now jailed on unrelated drug charges.
He hasn't been charged with anything connected to the possible theft.
The Christmas Bureau isn't an official Texas charity because it never filed the appropriate paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office.
