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3 Charged With Defrauding Philadelphia Welfare-To-Work Program

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's attorney general has charged three men with stealing $1.25 million in grants from a Philadelphia "welfare-to-work" program.

The nonprofit program was called the National Comprehensive Center for Fathers (NCCF), helping men to improve their lives for the benefit of their children.

Authorities allege that state and federal grant money was misused to fund lavish lifestyles for three leaders of the program.

"Lavish trips to Africa, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City, limousine rides, jewelry, dry cleaning, flowers, political contributions, down payments on townhouses, and buying cars for yourself should never be paid for by taxpayers' dollars," said Pennsylvania attorney general Kathleen Kane today.

Charged in the case are 45-year-old Bryon Noon, former director of the city's Department of Public Welfare's now-disbanded Bureau of Employment and Training division; 61-year-old Lawrence Yancey, also known as Kofi Asante, who was CEO of the NCCF; and 62-year-old Anthony McNeil, CFO of that organization.

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