Salem, Oregon – What began as a mission to help families shattered by wildfire, floods, and tornadoes has now become the subject of a sweeping legal fight in Oregon, where Attorney General Dan Rayfield says nearly $837,000 meant for disaster recovery was instead diverted for personal use.
According to a lawsuit filed by Rayfield, Marcus Brooks, founder and executive director of Cascade Relief Team, allegedly treated the charity’s accounts like his own spending pool while donors believed they were helping people rebuild after catastrophe.
The state claims Brooks siphoned away charitable donations and grant money for casino trips, strip clubs, personal travel, alcohol, vehicles, rent, child support, jewelry, and other private expenses, all while disaster victims waited for assistance.
“Oregonians donated to this organization because they wanted to help their neighbors recover from wildfires and floods,” said Attorney General Rayfield.
“Instead, that money went into one man’s pocket, spent on casino trips and personal bills while flood and fire victims waited for assistance. We will be sure he is held accountable for every dollar he took.”
Cascade Relief Team was created in September 2020, at a time when Oregon was reeling from one of the worst wildfire seasons in its history.
The organization presented itself as a lifeline for survivors and secured 501(c)(3) status, public donations, and government support. But the complaint argues that behind the public image, the charity was never properly run. Brooks allegedly listed board members who had no real oversight role, failed to maintain meaningful financial records, and shuffled money through 26 different bank accounts.
The lawsuit lays out a long list of alleged misuse, including $74,260 in unauthorized compensation, $270,861 for personal credit cards and bills, $116,133 in travel unrelated to relief work, $63,336 tied to personal vehicles, and $155,000 in loans that were never deposited into CRT accounts but were repaid using charity money. Investigators also say $64,436 in heavy equipment purchases cannot now be accounted for.
One of the most striking allegations involves a $326,000 Red Cross grant for tornado victims in Kentucky, provided through the Community Foundation of Western Kentucky. The complaint says the money landed in an overdrawn account, immediately losing nearly $17,000 to overdraft fees, before Brooks allegedly used the remaining funds to launch his own business.
In another instance, a $100,000 grant from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office for wildfire debris cleanup produced only a single work plan before Brooks stopped responding altogether.
Now, the state is asking the court to force repayment, permanently ban Brooks from leading any charity, dissolve Cascade Relief Team, and redirect any remaining assets to legitimate charitable purposes.
