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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has uncovered court records in which a local “activist”/career felon claims he suffers from mental retardation in an attempt to have a court appointed attorney in multiple current civil cases. Vernado Malone, the founder of the non-profit Justice for Michiana, is currently being sued by multiple families for taking and sharing nude pictures of the recently deceased at Alford’s Mortuary. He is also being sued for defamation in another case.
In both cases, court documents state, “Mr. Malone has provided documentation to the court
which suggests that sometime around 2013 he was underwent an evaluation of his cognitive abilities as part of a federal criminal proceeding. The documentation states that Mr. Malone ‘may have difficulty comprehending information related to the process of criminal adjudication, particularly if that information is overly abstract or complex in nature.'”
The judge denied Malone’s request in the nude picture scheme, stating “The matter at issue in the litigation in this court is not overly abstract or complex. In the case at
bar, it is alleged that Mr. Malone took photographs of deceased individuals and shared them. This case simply does not involve abstract or complex issues.”
The judge similarly denied Malone’s request in the defamation case — “It is alleged that Mr. Malone was a citizen journalist who maintained an internet website where he posted public interest stories based upon his investigations. It is alleged that Mr. Malone made defamatory statements against the Plaintiff on his online platform ‘Justice for Michiana’ This case simply does not involve abstract or complex issues.”
NUDE PICTURE SCHEME
Malone is the owner/founder of a non-profit called Justice for Michiana. The organization was created to help the families of homicide victims with funeral arrangements. In a 2021 RNM investigation, we uncovered 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. Our investigation, along with an investigation by Private Investigator and former Homicide Detective, Tim Corbett, led to multiple lawsuits and state investigations into Malone and Alford’s. The owner of Alford’s Mortuary subsequently had his funeral license indefinitely suspended.
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. Federal court records show a criminal record spanning more than a decade.
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.
There are also several state level charges and convictions, however, Malone petitioned the court to expunge those records. One arrest he is seeking to get expunged involves child molestation.
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.”
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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