WASHINGTON — A former employee of the LGBTQ+ nonprofit, Casa Ruby, is speaking out following the arrest of the organization's founder for money laundering and fraud charges.
Tania Cordova, who served as the group's director of legal services, says she feels vindicated by the criminal charges filed against Ruby Corado. The 53-year-old activist is accused of transferring at least $150,000 in COVID relief funds intended for the nonprofit to private banks in El Salvador.
"She's a really smart woman. She was able to build an organization. I do, I still admire her and I think things went the wrong direction," Cordova told WUSA9.
After nearly two years abroad, the FBI arrested Corado on Mar. 5 in a Laurel, Maryland hotel. Court documents state that she was alone in the room with a recently issued passport from El Salvador.
The U.S. Attorney for D.C. says Corado received more than $1.3 million in federal funding from the paycheck protection program and the economic injury disaster loan program. Court documents indicate that at least $800,000 was obtained fraudulently and that some of the money was intended to help with payroll.
"You abused us by not paying our salary," Cordova said. She is among the former employees who accuse Ruby Corado of not paying them for the last six weeks of their work.
"I don't think we just need to be compensated for our salary. We need to be compensated for everything that we went through," Cordova added. She says she is disappointed that nearly two years later they have not been paid.
The LGBTQ+ nonprofit founded in 2012 shuttered in July 2022.
"I have played a big part in this investigation," Cordova said. She believes the evidence mounted against her former employer is enough to get her to serve time behind bars.
Bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. Wire fraud and money laundering charges carry up to 20 years.
"Casa Ruby saved lives, and that was the mission to save lives," Cordova still stands by the help the organization provided for the LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness. She also says she was part of the work to help immigrants who were seeking asylum in the U.S. after fleeing prosecution in their home countries.
Corado is set to appear in DC District Court on Friday for her detention hearing.