Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
The Greater Sacramento NAACP has filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court against three of its former leaders — President Betty Williams, Education Chair Salena Pryor and Treasurer Lorraine Moore — along with several businesses connected to them.
The lawsuit claims the former officers used the organization to enrich themselves by hundreds of thousands of dollars through meal delivery programs meant to help seniors and food-insecure families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complaint includes allegations of breach of duty, fraud, and misrepresentation, among others. The NAACP is seeking repayment of funds, damages, and attorney’s fees.
During the pandemic, Sacramento County created the “Dine at Home” program to feed homebound seniors while supporting local restaurants. In 2022, Williams and Pryor, with help from Moore, led the Sacramento NAACP’s proposal for a follow-up program called “Dine-In 2.” The County approved $2.75 million — about $2.1 million for meal kits and the rest for administration. Williams signed two contracts on behalf of the branch, which barred officers or employees from having financial interests that conflicted with the program.
The lawsuit alleges the three leaders funneled money to their own businesses. Williams allegedly paid herself both as executive director at $150 an hour and her administrative assistant at $24 an hour. Pryor allegedly billed more than $60,000 in reimbursements and nearly $19,000 for accounting work, including one invoice at $1,000 an hour. Moore is accused of collecting payments for administrative services. The suit alleges their businesses received more than $700,000 — almost one-third of the program’s budget.
Investigators also pointed to suspicious and duplicate invoices, inflated billing during the program’s wind-down, and missing documentation.
The National NAACP began investigating the Sacramento branch in spring 2023 after concerns about missing reports and late payments to restaurants. In October 2023, the NAACP suspended Williams, Pryor, Moore, and three others. By December 2024, its board issued longer suspensions: Williams indefinitely, Pryor for six years, and Moore for five.
Sacramento County also launched its own review and later demanded the branch repay almost $950,000 in “disallowed costs” and $1.7 million for expenses without documentation.
This litigation has been filed to address the discrepancies, the County’s demand, and the reputational damage caused by the alleged actions of a “few rogue members.”
The next hearing is scheduled for February 2, 2026.