LEWISTON, Maine — A Change.org petition is asking U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to open a federal investigation into the Maine Community Foundation, alleging fraud and misappropriation in the distribution of donations raised after the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston.
The petition says more than $6.6 million was donated to the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund following the Oct. 25, 2023, shooting that killed 18 people and injured 13. It alleges that while about $4.7 million was distributed to people directly affected, roughly $1.9 million was directed to 29 nonprofits for broader recovery efforts, which petition organizers argue did not match donor expectations.
The petition alleges donors were led to believe that all contributions would go to victims, survivors and families, and says those directly affected were not clearly informed that a portion of the funds would be allocated to nonprofit organizations. It also raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, claiming some steering committee members helped award money to organizations with which they were affiliated.
Among the nonprofits cited in the petition are Gateway Community Services, described by the petition as being under investigation for fraud, and the Lewiston Auburn Youth Network, which the petition says is headed by Iman Osman, a former Lewiston city councilor who the petition says resigned and is being investigated for firearms charges.
The petition also references a 2025 review by the Maine Attorney General’s office that, according to the petition, found no legal concerns. Petition backers argue that continued complaints and what they describe as misleading practices warrant an independent federal investigation.
The petition asks the Justice Department to conduct an audit of all distributions, pursue the redirection of any misused funds to victims and families, and establish federal safeguards for future disaster-related funds to improve transparency and prioritize victims.
The petition was started by David Jones, a Republican candidate for governor of Maine. It includes comments from supporters who say they believed their donations would go directly to families affected by the shooting and that learning about nonprofit allocations has changed how they view charitable giving.
The Maine Community Foundation did not immediately respond to the petition’s claims. The Maine Wire has also reached out for a comment.
