The State Bureau of Investigation has confirmed it is now investigating two leaders of the Courtney Jordan Foundation, also known as CJF America. At the same time, a new civil lawsuit has been filed alleging the organization and its leaders failed to pay an employee more than $56,000.
CJF America founder Courtney Jordan and CFO Nicholas Gallardo have been the focus of several ABC11 Troubleshooter investigations after former employees told Troubleshooter Diane Wilson they were not paid for work they performed for the organization last summer.
SBI investigating possible financial crimes
An SBI spokesperson tells ABC11 the agency's involvement began after investigators with the Person County Sheriff's Department located Jordan and Gallardo, who were wanted on outstanding criminal charges.
According to search warrants, Person County investigators conducted surveillance at a home in Timberlake and found both men inside.
The warrants state investigators recovered multiple cell phones, suspected illegal narcotics, laptops, cash, notebooks containing financial account information and identification documents belonging to other people.
The SBI says, at the request of the Person County Sheriff's Office, it is now investigating possible financial crimes involving Jordan and Gallardo. An SBI spokesperson said the investigation is expected to take significant time due to the volume of materials seized during the search.
How Jordan and Gallardo were arrested
Jordan and Gallardo were initially wanted on fraud charges filed in Durham last September related to CJF America. Earlier this month, the Person County Sheriff's Office announced additional charges after investigators said the two men led deputies on a high-speed chase.
Court documents state the chase ended when the vehicle carrying Jordan and Gallardo crashed. Both men were injured and taken to a hospital. The sheriff says the two men left the hospital before deputies could arrest them.
Investigators later conducted surveillance at the Timberlake home, where the search warrants say they found both men and arrested them.
New $56,000 lawsuit
The SBI investigation comes as Jordan, Gallardo, CJF America and other organization leaders face a new civil lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges the defendants failed to pay an employee more than $56,000 for work performed for CJF America.
The new civil case is on top of other civil lawsuits filed against CJF and its leaders by other former employees who claim they also were not paid for the work they did.
What's next
Jordan and Gallardo are scheduled to appear in court Monday in Person County on several criminal charges.
They are also due in Durham later this month on fraud charges related to activities involving the Courtney Jordan Foundation.
ABC11 Troubleshooter Diane Wilson has repeatedly reached out to Jordan and Gallardo for comment about the allegations and the latest developments. They have not responded.