BATON ROUGE, La. – State officials announced Tuesday that Jazmine King, 35, director of Divine Kingdom Ministries Inc., was taken into custody on felony theft charges after investigators said she diverted roughly $37,500 of a state grant into personal expenses.
State agencies coordinate response
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, operating under Attorney General Liz Murrill, executed the arrest after the Office of the Inspector General flagged concerns in the nonprofit’s cost reports. The grant, a $75,000 appropriation administered through the Louisiana Department of the Treasury’s Cooperative Endeavor Agreement, was intended to fund “academic support and life‑skills training” for children in north Louisiana.
According to the Attorney General’s office, an initial payment of $37,500 was deposited directly into the nonprofit’s bank account, which investigators say was solely controlled by King. Treasury staff identified a pattern of questionable cash‑back transactions, missing invoices and an Airbnb purchase that raised red flags.
Alleged personal expenditures
Investigators allege that King used the public money to pay for a personal vehicle, car insurance, consumer debts, jewelry purchases, unauthorized ATM withdrawals, residential utility bills and travel expenses. They also claim she paid individuals for work that was never performed and failed to maintain payroll timesheets, ledgers or any documentation of the hours she allegedly worked.
“Car, cash, and jewelry! Instead of enriching the lives of young people in north Louisiana, Ms. King appears to have used the hard‑earned tax dollars of the men and women of Louisiana to enrich herself instead,” Attorney General Murrill said in a statement. “Louisiana is fighting back against public‑benefits fraud — and getting real results. Great work by my agents, Louisiana Inspector General Angele Davis and her team, and the Louisiana Department of the Treasury.”
Inspector General’s perspective
Inspector General Angele Davis echoed the Attorney General’s concerns, noting that the money was earmarked to provide academic support to children in the region. “Our investigators found it paid for a car note, jewelry, and a weekend in Monroe,” Davis said. “When Treasury saw something wrong in the cost reports, they referred it to us; we built the case and took it to the Attorney General.”
King was arrested on a warrant issued by the 19th Judicial District Court and booked without incident at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Implications for nonprofit oversight
The case underscores the importance of rigorous oversight for state‑funded programs, especially those serving vulnerable youth. State officials emphasized that the swift action demonstrates a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that grant money reaches its intended recipients.
Community leaders and faith‑based organizations have expressed support for the investigation, noting that accountability is essential for maintaining public trust in charitable initiatives. “When public funds are misused, it harms not only the children we aim to serve but also the reputation of legitimate nonprofits,” said a local church spokesperson who asked to remain unnamed.
The Attorney General’s office indicated that further charges may be considered if additional evidence emerges during the ongoing investigation.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
