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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A St. Joseph County judge ruled in favor of a woman who is suing a local “charity” for defamation. According to court documents, the judge issued a default judgement against Justice for Michiana, while proceedings against its founder continue. The woman filed a defamation lawsuit against local activist/convicted felon, Vernado Malone and his non-profit, Justice for Michiana, in early 2022. The woman, who REAL News Michiana has decided not to name, claims more than a year of harassment at the hands of Malone and his non-profit. While the judge has ruled in favor of the woman in the defamation case against the non-profit, a hearing to determine damages has not yet been held. A trial in the case against Malone is scheduled for later this year.
BACKGROUND
The lawsuit outlines a laundry list of defamatory remarks made by Malone, falsely claiming she is a prostitute, criminal, racist and adulterer.
The woman who Malone has been attacking, is a former employee of the St. Joseph County Voter Registration Office and was a key witness to uncovering a scheme in which Malone was taking and sharing nude photographs of dead bodies from a local funeral home. Since helping to expose that scheme, Malone and his proxies have relentlessly stalked and attacked the woman. He even unsuccessfully attempted to work with the NAACP to harass the woman further.
On top of the defamation suit, the woman was awarded a Protection Order against Malone in March of 2022.
Malone currently has a total two active protection orders against him for stalking, harassment and abuse. He’s had a total of seven protection orders filed against him since 2013.
NUDE PICTURE SCHEME
Malone’s non-profit was created to help the families of homicide victims with funeral arrangements. Malone had a partnership with Alford’s Mortuary and was given access to take hundreds of nude pictures of dead bodies at the facility. Malone would then share those photos with strangers, friends and family members. Two families of the deceased, who had nude pictures taken, sued Malone and Alford’s Mortuary. Alford’s settled the cases while litigation still remains against Malone and Justice for Michiana. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office also opened up an investigation, leading to the indefinite suspension of Alford’s funeral license.
The woman who is involved in the defamation suit reported the incidents to former St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Commander, Tim Corbett, and also gave an interview to REAL News Michiana, which led to our in depth investigative report last year.
CITY FUNDS CONVICTED FELON
Malone is a multiple convicted federal felon. Despite his record, the City of South Bend helped to fund his non-profit through a city grant to help stop violent crime. Malone has been in and out of prison for his entire adult life. In St. Joseph County alone, he’s been arrested for Child Molestation twice, Domestic Battery 7 times, Criminal Trespassing 3 times, Battery twice, Illegal Use of a Police Radio, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief twice, Forgery and Theft.
He’s also been convicted of multiple federal crimes.
In 1999, Vernado Malone was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for credit card fraud. He was ordered to pay more than $17,000 in restitution.
In 2005, Vernado Malone was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Aiding and Abetting Forfeiture Allegation. He was ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution.
In 2015, Vernado Malone was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. He was ordered to pay more than $50,000 in restitution.
Despite all of that, the City of South Bend awarded Malone with $7,000 in taxpayer money as part of the “Alive grant.”
According to the city’s website, the “Alive grant program is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce incidents of gun violence in the community and provide constructive initiatives for South Bend’s young people.”
Attached is Malone’s grant application and the City’s award.
Justice-For-Michiana-ApplicationDownload
SB-Alive-Response-Letter_RCD2_VMaloneSr_JFMDownload
RNM reached out to Mayor James Mueller himself, who had the city’s director of communications, Caleb Bauer, respond. The city had 3 days to come up with the following statement.
“The South Bend Alive Grant Program was developed to support community-based initiatives that work to reduce incidents of gun violence in South Bend. Applicants were required to complete a narrative grant application describing their plans for prospective programming and submit a budget form detailing how grant funds would be utilized.
Recipients are required to provide quarterly updates on their programs and measurable data to the Office of Community Initiatives for review.
Grant recipients have agreed to comply with all federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and ordinances. A grantee who violated any laws would also be in violation of the program agreement and could be subject to litigation.”
RNM asked Bauer if the city knew about Vernado Malone’s criminal record and if the city did background checks on the applicants. Bauer did not respond.
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