LINCOLN COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) – The founder of an Oregon disaster relief nonprofit was indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury on Tuesday for stealing money donated to help tornado victims, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
Marcus Brooks of Otis, founder and executive director of the Cascade Relief Team, is facing two counts of first-degree aggravated theft centered on a $326,000 grant from the American Red Cross. The ODOJ said the money was intended to help build tornado shelters for survivors in Kentucky.
Brooks is accused of using some of the funds to settle past debts connected to his company. The remaining money he allegedly spent on car payments, entertainment, cash withdrawals at casinos, payments to himself, travel and hotel stays unrelated to the Kentucky project, and bank fees from consistent overdrafts.
Previously in April, the State of Oregon filed a civil lawsuit against Brooks, alleging he stole nearly $837,000 of donated funds and government grants that were meant for fire, flood, and tornado victims in Oregon and Kentucky, according to the ODOJ. In that lawsuit, the state accuses Brooks of moving the money through 26 different bank accounts and spending it on casinos, strip clubs, Disneyland, cars, and personal bills. The civil case is still ongoing.
“This man preyed on people at the worst moment of their lives,” said Attorney General Dan Rayfield. “He wore the badge of a disaster relief leader while gambling away the money meant to rebuild people’s homes and give them a new start. That’s a debt he’ll have to pay back in more ways than one.”
Copyright 2026 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.
