PITTSBURGH —
Emmett Miles, executive director of the Fishers of Men Community Development Corporation, has been the first charged as part of an investigation into the city of Pittsburgh’s finances.
According to the criminal complaint, he is facing 29 counts, including receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, and theft by deception,
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office alleges Miles received more than $350,000 from city, county, and state funds but failed to make required payments and dispositions, according to the criminal complaint.
The Fishers of Men Community Development Corporation, based in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, describes itself on its website as providing equal opportunities for underserved and displaced individuals to enter the green workforce development industry.
The affidavit states the charges follow an eight-month investigation by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, which included testimony from several witnesses about potential abuse of public funds and a review of hundreds of documents.
City files show one of the alleged allocations occurred last year. It was for $30,120 from the city’s Food Justice Fund. The file said the funds were given to Fishers of Men to allocate to the Oasis Project, a community kitchen through the Bible Center in Homewood. A church official declined to comment on whether the Oasis Project received the allocation but confirmed receiving a similar amount from the same fund that was given at the same time, but through Grow Pittsburgh. They say the money was received and the work was completed.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was able to speak with Miles over the phone, who said he wants to share his side of the story but not at the time of this report.
A spokesperson for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said Miles has not yet been served.