LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — We're learning more about nonprofit leader, Thomas Kovach Jr., and his alleged theft scheme spanning from 2018 to 2022.
Kovach is facing 19 felony theft charges, accused of diverting nearly $350,000 from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation to Project Real when he was executive director there. Police allege Kovach then paid more than $180,000, or 52% of the stolen funds, to himself.
Former accountant for the nonprofit Project Real, Deborah Granda, spoke only to Channel 13 about her experience working with Kovach while he was the executive director at that organization.
"Difficult at best," said Granda, describing her time with Kovach. "I had to chase him all over town to get paid. There were times I'd wait three or four months to be paid. It was very frustrating when I'd see him getting paid every month without fail."
Granda said Kovach was rarely in the office and when she would ask about certain financial transactions, his responses would be vague.
"I would say to Tom, 'we got this money in from Metro, but I don't have any grant, I don't have any documentation. Can you get me some documentation to back this up for the file?'" said Granda. "I would get like, 'oh, they're working on it.'"
As the financial bookkeeper, Granda said she was aware of every penny coming in and out of the nonprofit. When she started to suspect what might have been happening, she quit.
"The Foundation decides they're going to donate $10,000 on October 30. Then on November 1, Tom takes $9,000," said Granda. "In April of 2022, Tom had taken an SBA loan, Covid loan for Project Real for over $100,000. The CPA and I were on the phone and we were like, we're done."
Granda told Channel 13 she also found it strange that Kovach was listed as a consultant for Project Real while serving as executive director.
"Tom was never an employee. He was not a W-2 employee. He was a 1099 consultant. And who hires a 1099 consultant as our executive director? Like, it just did not make sense," said Granda.
Granda said she also had no one to bring her concerns to.
"The only official board members were Tom and another person. And the other person basically just said, anytime I tried to approach her on any issues, the response was, 'he's in charge, he's the one you need to take up your issues with,'" said Granda.
Channel 13 obtained a 58-page Metro declaration of summons detailing what detectives found in their course of investigation into Kovach.
The documents show several people who worked with Kovach at LVMPD Foundation and Project Real — where he was the head of both — when interviewed by detectives.
Karen Marben, the current LVMPD Foundation executive director, told Metro detectives she took over in August 2023 and found several "questionable" activities by Kovach.
Marben said she found there was "significant financial support to Project Real" and contributions to other nonprofits Kovach was a part of.
In one instance, Marben said there was a donation made to the LVMPD Foundation from the Gratitude Project of $37,5000 on March 3, 2020. Then, a check from the Foundation to Project Real was written by Kovach on March 17, 2020.
Marben also stated feedback was "overwhelmingly negative" about Kovach and the foundation's former Financial Director Flor Bernal-Gonzalez.
Channel 13 spoke briefly to Bernal-Gonzalez at her home on Thursday.
She said she has "no knowledge" of checks being given to Project Real from the Metro Foundation.
This is despite her telling detectives she "knew the Foundation was providing funding to Project Real," according to the summons. Bernal-Gonzalez has not been charged.
Marben spoke to Channel 13 on Thursday about the changes the nonprofit has made since she took charge.
"Our hope is that our donors will continue to know that we are to be trusted and every dollar that is invested in our organization is going to go to the purpose in which it was intended for," said Marben.
The LVMPD Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its mission is to help Metro fund certain things that are not allotted in the county budget such as community events, new technology and training facilities.
"We are continuing to do the good work in our community," said Marben. "The work that we are doing is extremely important and impactful to the community."
Marben took over as head of the Foundation in September of 2023 and said she immediately went to make corrections. This includes a new board committee, putting in best practices for nonprofits and meeting with the financial chair twice a week.
The Foundation said Kovach left as executive director in early 2023. According to the summons, the Foundation's marketing director Pamela Puppel told detectives she believed "he was leaving on his own, but then found out he was fired by the board."
Mike Kamer, the current executive director for Project Real, sent us this statement:
"Earlier this year, Project REAL’s Board of Directors was made aware of an investigation involving our former Executive Director, Tom Kovach. Since then, we have fully cooperated with the authorities in their inquiry.
Tuesday night, we became aware that felony charges were filed against Mr. Kovach, and that a partial explanation of Project REAL 's role in those matters was being provided in a local news report.
Project REAL remains dedicated to the principles of transparency, integrity and civic education that our organization was founded on. We will continue to focus on our mission and serve the community with the same honor and commitment that has guided us throughout the years.
We look forward to the day when we can freely say more. As things currently stand, we continue to fully cooperate with investigators and support all of their efforts getting to the truth of the matter. It is in the interest of that work that we are unable to comment further at this time."
In the summons, several employees who worked for Kovach at both nonprofits described to detectives a "frustrating" experience working with him.
One former employee, LaToya Holman, said the Foundation quickly became "abusive and toxic."
The documents state:
"She further explained she would go to Kovach to explain issues she had with other employees and Kovach wouldn’t do anything to support her. Holman would ask where some of the money was going and Kovach would get angry and mad with her asking about finances, balances and where the money was for specific events."
Kovach is scheduled to be in court for his initial appearance on October 28.
His attorney Dominic Gentile told Channel 13 there is no comment at this time.
