Ex-Urban League official sentenced for fraud, ID theft

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A former Columbus Urban League official has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for fraud and identity theft.

Ovell Harrison of Columbus also must pay back more than $85,000 he was accused of stealing from the nonprofit organization. Federal authorities say he created false invoices for work by contractors, then took the Urban League payments for himself.

Harrison, 55, served as director of education services for the Columbus Urban League from 2004 to 2010. A U.S. District Court judge Friday sentenced Harrison to 42 months in prison, three years’ probation, and to pay restitution to the Columbus Urban League and its insurance company.