Midnight At The Oasis

The Maryland Supreme Court has accepted an attorney’s consent to disbarment.

A press release from February 2016 of the District of Columbia Office of the United States Attorney

According to a statement of offense submitted at the plea hearing, Fogan was the executive director of the Oasis Foundation, a private charitable foundation located in the District of Columbia. The Board of Directors of the Oasis Foundation was comprised of Fogan, a professor, and a priest. The Oasis Foundation’s purpose was to make financial donations to various non-profit and charitable organizations that worked in educational development, innovation in science and technology, the promotion of arts and culture, developing families and strong communities, and the promotion of environmental awareness and protection.

Fogan enjoyed exclusive access to, and control of, the Oasis Foundation’s finances, including all bank accounts. From on or about Jan. 1, 2011, to at least May 31, 2013, Fogan illegally obtained in excess of $1 million from the Oasis Foundation.  Oasis Foundation accounts were replenished as Fogan continued to spend down the balances in each account.

 Fogan spent at least $1 million of the illegally obtained funds at casinos. Spending the funds in such fashion was contrary to the purpose and mission of the organization. The Board was unaware of such spending, and would not have approved of it. Fogan continued in the unlawful spending of these funds until he was caught by law enforcement.

   Of the numerous illegal transactions Fogan conducted, seven were for amounts in excess of $10,000, which comprise the money laundering charge. These seven transactions totaled $223,568.

  During this time period, the defendant made some legitimate expenditures related to the Oasis Foundation, which resulted in the commingling of funds.

(Mike Frisch)