Wednesday, November 28, 2012

RED HOT Information Revealed On North Talk Facebook Forum About Convicted Mortgage Fraudster Eric Yusef Mahmoud, Head Of SEED Academy/Harvest Prep...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

According to information published by Lisa Clemons on the popular North Talk Facebook forum, a convicted felon named Eric Yusef Mahmoud is head of SEED Academy/Harvest Prep and also a convicted felon involved in mortgage fraud. These facts are already revealed in a Star Tribune article, click here. But more information about Mahmoud was revealed in the Facebook discussion, including allegations by Lisa Clemons that Mahmoud ripped off a black owned daycare center.

Clemons is the sister of controversial community activist Al Flowers. Posing a question in North Talk that concealed more than it revealed, Lisa asked, "Should a convicted felon be paid $173,000 a year and everyone keep quiet because he is black and some don't want to offend the black leadership?"

The little game about who she was talking about went on for a little while, but Lisa ultimately revealed who she was referencing and said much more...

Here is where Clemons revealed who she was talking about, spilling the beans on what appears to have been an "open secret" among some segments of the community.

Eric Yusef Mahomoud: Head of SEED Academy/Harvest Prep. Convicted of trying to defraud the state of Georgia of 1.8 million dollars in a mortgage fraud scheme (Google it). The school boards argument is "He pled guilty" he was not convicted. I laugh even remembering them telling me that. Some men, with felony convictions, can"t even get a minimum wage job and definitely can work in the school system. I have been told to be quit and don't call the "brother" out. I have been told, "The white man been robbing us for years." Makes me cringe. The community wont change as long as we hide the criminals. I don't care how educated you are. A crook is a crook.

Another participant in the forum pointed out the crime was back in 2005 and provided the following link.

http://mortgagefraud.squarespace.com/journal/2005/6/15/5-arrested-in-atlanta-in-yet-another-mortgage-fraud-scheme.html 

The information linked spells the name "Eric Yusef Mahmoud" which is slightly different than Lisa Clemons was spelling it in her comments. And yet there seems to be little dispute about the truthfulness of Lisa's remarks, except for a bit of a dispute about who on the Minneapolis school board knew what and when did they know it.

Here is Clemons' version of the story:

He was convicted in 2010 and did not notify the school board, his board or the community. in fact he signed on to a contract with the schoo; board to open more charter schools after the conviction and failed to report the conviction. Startribune reported the story in August 2012. School board said they did an extensive background check and did not see the conviction, nor did Eric Mahmoud disclose the information.

Clemons claims she has been in email contact with the school board but I do not have a copy of the emails in question.

A forum participant named Thomas Berry told Clemons she "threw the entire black community under the bus" by revealing information in public about this convicted felon. But Clemons described her motives this way:

I owned a daycare in North Minneapolis, with my sisters, and Eric Mahmoud was our landlord/owner. He took our rent, of up to $5,000.00 a month, and never paid the mortgage. We worked in slum conditions with ceiling tiles nearly falling on our children several times. he had numerous fines from the city for refusing to do work orders, etc. unbeknown to us he was pocketing our rent money for 2 years and we found out when the bank came to serve us a foreclosure notice and a friend in the Sheriff's department to me we needed to leave. All the while Eric was telling me not to worry he had the money. Finally he stopped taking my calls and we lost our business. He is a thief and this is fact not rumor. Oh by the way... he was robbing us while waiting for his sentence to be handed down for felony mortgage fraud!!!! 

For the record, Mahmoud was not selected to run the school so much as a founder of the school.

Clemons had this to say to Thomas Berry about supposedly throwing the black community under the bus.

 I wont debate the issue with you because you weren't his victim. While Eric Mahmoud continues to live in his house by the golf course and drive his fancy cars, and draw a annual 6 figure salary.... my staff lost homes, apartments, cars and struggled to find employment to feed their children. The black community had the opportunity to drive the bus and decided to sit in the back and act like he committed no injustice. If Eric Mahmoud was white Thiomas and I posted this same information what would your opinion be? I got mad respect for what you are trying to do but to lead you have to call all races on the carpet. Crooks aren't just gang 
banging. They are robbing the commintiy in suits too.

Clemons also asserted she was correct in regard to who at the school board knew what and when, as follows:

with all due respect my facts are absolutely correct. I have spoken with board members for SEED and MPLS School board and they became aware when Startribune announced it. I have read all board minutes and that conviction was never addresses. I am really not trying to piss any of you off but none of you were victims of Eric Yusef Mahmoud either.

@Thomas: Like I said I got mad respect for you but if I could wear a sign and stand on a roof top shouting that he is a thief I would. I know he started SEED Academy and I don't knock him for that, but why is that an excuse for his criminal behavior? That just sounds crazy. The truth is the truth.


The Star Tribune article linked above made no mention of the situation with the daycare center. The investigation discussed in the Strib article is apparently not yet concluded. Here was the situation as of September 11 of this year, according to the Strib.

However, Mahmoud still faces detailed questions from the authorizer of Harvest Prep and Mastery, Audubon Center of the North Woods, over issues of finances, governance and the relationships between the two schools and SEED. SEED is the nonprofit company run by Mahmoud and his wife, Ella, that rents space to the schools at 1300 Olson Highway and provides them administrative services for a fee. Audubon extended its contract with Mahmoud's schools by only six months until it gets answers to those questions.

The Star Tribune last month reported on a number of issues involving Mahmoud, SEED and their finances. The school has been operating under a forbearance agreement with investors in its bonds after missing several payments to them. The Star Tribune reported that Mahmoud is paid about $273,000 for his various roles with SEED and Best, more than the best-paid district superintendents in Minnesota.

25 comments:

Johnny Northside! said...

Trying to find links to articles about the arrest and conviction. Here is one. It mentions an Atlanta Journal Constitution article, but the link to that article is dead.

http://mortgagefraudblog.com/perp-walk/item/10280-georgia_residential_mortgage_fraud_act_results_in_five_more_arrests

Anonymous said...

No Snitching Aloud!

Anonymous said...

Johnny this info about Eric that you are running with is old, Don Allen and Ron edwards have already talked about and wrote about this back in the summer months. Get some fresh stories to write about, you are very late on this one. Lisa has complained about Eric ripping her off when she had a daycare in her building but since Lisa knows law because she was once a former Minneapolis Police officer for years, dont you think by now, Lisa would have taken legal action against Eric for all the so-called money that she allegedly ripped off from her. Johnny and you also must not have been aware, the star tribune wrote all the negative articles about Eric and how much his salary is and the state dept of Ed. needed to investigate him blah blah blah, and State dept of Ed came back with a crystal clear, Eric is legit and has a solid program. I guess whites are mad because his Schools have produced higher test scores for students of color than they have produced and what about all the white ceo that are running non-profits orgs and making high six figure salaries? but I guess no one wants to talk about that. Get a life

I know what really happened said...

John, are you just a dumb fuck or what? Lisa Clemons is Al Flowers' sister. They set you up and you fell for it. I'm sure the Sherrif will be by soon yo drop off some paperwork. #dumbass #fuckhead

Anonymous said...

Every day you convince more members of North Talk that you are a racist asshole.

Anonymous said...

Ray Dehn - Felon
Al McFarlane - Felon (robbed a Perkins & Bank with weapon)
Scott Gray - Minneapolis Urban League (Cocaine felon - Madision, WI)

Man Man vs. JohnnyBoyy said...

Start posting more blogs about you and your family Johnnyboyyy. I love the site and all but post more including people like your mom or something, hahaah...I'f not, I have some I can post of her out of gratitude I bet she a beautiful old fuck!!! & What war vets have as much time to blog !!!! You never served my my country #PRICK there's fake thugs and fake war vets <<< Low-life4Life

Johnny Northside! said...

In regard to the comment from "I know what really happened," when I try to click on the hyperlink to that name it doesn't connect, however this is what comes up for a URL.

http://www.ericisinnocent.youredone.biz/

Johnny Northside! said...

In regard to the commenter at 7:17 PM, kindly prove what you are saying to be true or I will assume 66 percent of it (the part that's not about Ray Dehn) is just false and all you're doing is stirring shit.

Johnny Northside! said...

To the commenter going by "Man Man," etc. etc whatever whatever, your comment is rejected.

Best of luck with all your future musical endeavors.

Johnny Northside! said...

TO THE COMMENTER SUBMITTING INFO VIA THE COMMENTS FUNCTION, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...

For technical reasons, I can only read the first 7 lines or so of your comment when you submit it that way. I can't read the rest of your long, informative, juicy and well-researched comments without hitting the publish button.

Keep doing what you do, but instead of parts one through three you may have to submit parts one through six. I found a technical way around the problem but it's a bit of an ass pain. All I ask is that you keep the comments down to about seven lines. Submit more of them if you want. I am looking into all the information you forwarded that way.

Johnny Northside! said...

Fascinating 990 Form here.

990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/411/411677034/411677034_201006_990.pdf

Anonymous said...

How come the majority of your comments posted are your own? Are you the only one "fascinated" by your drivel?

Anonymous said...

CONFIDENTIAL DONT PUBLISH Sorry Johnny I had no idea that was a problem.SIMPLE QUESTION YES OR NO PARTS 0NE TO THREE LAST NIGHT ALL ENDED WITH END PART whatever of three and CONFIDENTIAL. Did you get them complete? Need to know to resubmit or go on with the rest(!) of what I found yesterday. Just post "YES TROLL" or "NO TROLL" on this thread.END

Anonymous said...

CONFIDENTIAL DONOTPOST Part One of ? sent 11-30.THINK TWICE-MAY WANT ALL THE FACTS BEFORE PUTTING THIS OUT IN ANY WAY. What does the 2131Lyndale (pre Bashir) sales history look like? http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/PIApp/ValuationRpt.aspx?pin=20568
Who is Creative Capital Solutions? http://www.superpages.com/bp/Minneapolis-MN/Creative-Capital-Solutions-L2165416937.htm
hmmm (1300 Olsen?-Isn't that Mahmoud's non profit?) Oh Yeah. Check the 'business' address for Creative Capital here: http://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/Business/SearchDetails?filingGuid=f2aeedf6-8ad4-e011-a886-001ec94ffe7f That's a house whose is it? http://www16.co.hennepin.mnus
Why that's Eric and Ella Mahmoud's house(!) /pins/pidresult.jsp?pid=1011921420057&year=2011
END comment 1 of Nov30
CONFIDENTIAL

Johnny Northside! said...

To my behind the scenes commenter, thank you, that last comment you submitted of 7 lines or so with "END" at the end was perfect.

Anonymous said...

The trolls are loud

Johnny Northside! said...

To my behind the scenes commenter, yes, I managed to get them all complete by doing a few extra technical steps. You don't need to resend.

Johnny Northside! said...

To my behind the scenes commenter, OK, I got that.

Wow.

Anonymous said...

The FELON should be forced to talk about all of his crimes in front of all of the students and their parents Then ALL of his funding should be cut. Disgusting the support he is getting.

Anonymous said...

So if all of the funding gets cut, what happens to the 900 children that are served in those schools? Should we release them to the great and grand care of Minneapolis Public Schools? HA...

Anonymous said...

Lisa Clemons sued the Minneapolis Police Department for harassment a while back and won a significant amount of money. Al Flowers has been ripping off the community along with Allen and the race baiting Edwards for far too long.
Blacks will always say they are not racist even when they are ripping their own people off and blaming white people in the same breath. That, folks, is the worst kind of racism. What a joke.

Anonymous said...

What's the point 7:54? That important people in important positions get a pass if and when they've done something wrong? This because they are important? Or this because they are busy setting a good example for the children?

That's a guilty plea. Fortunately it was for the victimless crime of mortgage fraud. Just like prostitution and drug sales are victimless crimes.

Anonymous said...

I asked about the children because no one seems worried about them...

Anonymous said...

Blacks can not be racist, where is their power??? Look up the definition of racism.