When Council Chair Edward P. Burroughs III announced the District 8 Senior Support Fund, it was framed as a historic $5 million investment in the county’s elders, a promise to reinvest MGM Local Impact Grant dollars into the very communities surrounding the National Harbor casino. But beneath the polished press releases lies a story of political favoritism, strategic omissions, and a funding shakeup that may soon face legal scrutiny and lead to indictments.
🎭 The Public Narrative
According to official statements, the fund is designed to support seniors with:
- Lawn cutting services
- Mortgage and rental assistance
- Utility and property tax relief
Burroughs positioned the initiative as a fulfillment of MGM’s original commitment to District 8 residents, a direct response to years of misallocated casino revenues. The plan was part of a broader $9.7 million annual spending proposal that included youth employment, food security, and mental health services.
But what the press releases don’t say is that $2.5 million of that funding had already been quietly redirected to Joan’s House, a youth jobs program run by a man Burroughs is reportedly dating. That’s a fivefold increase from its original allocation of less than $500,000, and it came at the expense of long-standing nonprofits like the Red Cross and Capital Area Food Bank, which serve all parts of Prince George’s County.
🧠 What Really Happened
This wasn’t a reallocation due to inefficiency or underperformance. It was a deliberate looting of county nonprofit funds, orchestrated when Burroughs took the gavel as Council Chair. The shakeup also benefited a nonprofit formerly run by Krystal Oreadha, a political minion of Edward.
The MGM funds, originally intended to uplift communities within a six-mile radius of the casino, were instead funneled into organizations with personal ties to the council leadership. The public was told seniors were getting $5 million, but the original allocation was only $4.25 million, and that figure was bumped up after Joan’s House had already secured its windfall.
🔍 The Legal Undercurrent
Sources close to the matter suggest that the Ethics office is reviewing the reallocation process, particularly the abrupt defunding of reputable nonprofits and the surge in funding to politically connected entities. If the investigation confirms that public funds were misused for personal or political gain, criminal charges could follow, including fraud, abuse of public trust, and violations of procurement ethics. Ater Edward’s reign of terror it would be good to see some indictments come down.
🧩 Why It Matters
- Transparency: Seniors and residents deserve to know where the money is actually going.
- Accountability: Public funds should not be used to reward personal relationships.
- Integrity: The MGM Local Impact Grant was meant to uplift, not enrich Edward and his cronies.