Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
The NYFAC Autism Center has been based on Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach for the past 20 years.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The board of directors of a Howard Beach-based autism advocacy agency has organized an internal investigation of the nonprofit and its chief executive officer.
The New York Families for Autistic Children board this week retained Jerry Solomon of Barclay Dennis, LLP, to head up the probe, according to the Queens Chronicle. Solomon subsequently contracted Madison Avenue accounting firm The Bonadio Group to assist with the inquiry.
Solomon has confirmed the internal investigation, but would not divulge its targets or scope. NYFAC founder, President and CEO Andrew Baumann has been temporarily relieved of his duties. The board of directors has tapped Steven Freeman as interim CEO.
The investigation is expected to take a couple of weeks to complete.
At the outset, it seemed rumor mills were working overtime regarding the story. Initial reports described simultaneous Federal Bureau of Investigation-led raids of NYFAC’s Autism Center on Cross Bay
Boulevard and Baumann’s private residence.
“The FBI did not raid the place on Friday, there were no raids,” Solomon told the Queens Eagle. “No law enforcement agencies are involved, this is an internal investigation.”
A spokesman for the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the agency does not confirm nor deny the existence of investigations. State Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who vets all New York nonprofits, did not return a request for comment.
Solomon served for 25 years as a regional director for the State AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. His practice areas at Barclay Damon include: white collar crime, health care and human services, health care controversies, and commercial litigation.
According to its website, since 1998, NYFAC has been “motivating and inspiring individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder — and their families — to live life to the fullest.” The organization has more than 150 employees and provides more than 20 different programs to its clients.
