Former Portland Nonprofit Leader Sentenced After Admitting He Took Over $100,000 Through Fraudulent Withdrawals

The ex-Alberta Main Street (AMS) board chair and president, Devon T. Horace, was sentenced to one year’s formal probation for theft and falsifying business records on Thursday over the misuse of charitable assets belonging to the now-dissolved nonprofit.

AMS Chairman Sentenced In Theft Case

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Horace was formerly the president of Alberta Main Street, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Northeast Portland’s Alberta Street neighborhood.

Its mission was to advance efforts to develop the street as a vibrant, creative, and sustainable commercial district serving residents and visitors.

Horace pleaded no contest to a single count of Theft in the First Degree and one of Falsifying Business Records.

Court documents show Horace withdrew at least $100,000 from the nonprofit through several fraudulent schemes between July 2021 and January 2023, including:

• Soliciting donations in bad faith: $50,000 in donations secured from his former employer, Nike, Inc., and $5,000 from the Portland Trail Blazers were concealed and withdrawn by Horace the same day they arrived, paying himself $85,000 directly in four transactions.
• False statements to board members: Falsely told the board that a $7,000 deduction from AMS’s account went to repay a fully-forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. He had withdrawn the funds for his personal use.
• Misappropriation of restricted funds: Multiple unauthorized cash withdrawals between $3,000 and $7,000- with no legitimate business purpose- appear on the bank statements.
• Falsified bank documents: Horace removed deposits and disbursements to match internal accounting records before giving altered bank statements to the organization’s treasurer.

Horace’s misconduct was discovered after two members were left to wind down the organization’s affairs following a mass departure of board members in early 2023. A subsequent financial reconciliation revealed significant discrepancies.

He was sentenced to 12 months of formal probation. Horace also paid $85,080.95 in restitution to the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, consistent with AMS’s request at the time of its dissolution, and completed 240 hours of community service as part of the plea agreement.