USAID watchdog’s debarments expose two schemes diverting American foreign aid

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A Colombian nonprofit that provided aid services to Venezuelan migrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with HIV, and others, has been debarred after an investigation revealed the organization’s former president and affiliates allegedly sexually exploited those it was purporting to help. Debarment is a form of penalty used by the agency to suspend funding and involvement with USAID for a period of time.

The debarred nonprofit, FUVADIS, was founded by Luis Meneses, who stands accused of engaging in sexual quid-pro-quos with program participants in exchange for benefits, the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) said in a press release.

Meneses also committed fraud, the OIG said, by diverting donor-provided HIV medications, which were supposed to be free, to sell for his own financial gain. Due to the allegations, at least six organizations that also operated in the region discontinued their professional relationship with FUVADIS.

“The Trump administration is putting an end to sending Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars overseas to sleazy criminal enterprises, which USAID IG continues to expose and bring to justice,” a senior administration official told Just the News.

The OIG referred Meneses for suspension and debarment, which he received. Meneses, FUVADIS, and his brother, Leonardo, received five-year debarments, meaning for that period they can’t receive new federal contracts, grants, or participate in government programs.

Medical supplies, HIV test kits stolen and then sold on the black market

Across the sea, a USAID OIG investigation also led to the debarment of a Kenyan company and Guyanese national for diverting U.S.-funded medical supplies from a Kenyan government-run corporation. An OIG investigation found that between 2015 and 2019, Davendra Rampersaud illegally sold stolen medical supplies from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). Rampersaud used his own company, Caribbean Medical Supplies, Inc., to sell the stolen goods to the Guyanese government. He and his company also sold HIV test kits from another USAID program.

At the time of the wrongdoing, KEMSA had received $650 million in USAID awards.

“The Vice President’s historic anti-fraud initiatives are netting criminals who steal from public programs at home and abroad,” the Trump administration official told Just the News. “This case is a major win for Attorney General Blanche, Secretary Rubio, and the USAID Inspector General office for crossing oceans to uncover and break up crime rings diverting American foreign assistance.” As a result of the investigation, Rampersaud and his company received three-year debarments from working or contracting with the U.S. government.

Earlier this month, the OIG announced that it had broken up a larger Kenyan pharmacy scheme involving supplies stolen from KEMSA. That operation was separate from the one involving Rampersaud, and led to two arrests and compelled 11 individuals to report for further investigative or court proceedings. It also closed at least four pharmacies over illegal schemes and violations of regulations.

The USAID OIG suspected that some of the products had been stolen from U.S.-funded foreign assistance and global health programs, Just the News previously reported.

According to The Hill, dozens of House Democrats denounced the Trump administration’s actions towards the USAID in a letter last February. The letter, signed by Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), among others, claimed that “despite long-standing bipartisan support for USAID initiatives that fight violence against women and girls, the proposed elimination of USAID and its funding would roll back years of progress across the globe and violate U.S. law.”