WFAA-TV

Casey Thomas, left, declined to answer questions on camera.

DALLAS — Casey Thomas, the president of the Dallas chapter of the NAACP, is under investigation by the state chapter of the civil rights group for allegedly misusing funds. Some members are calling for him to step down.

The allegations arose after a trip Thomas made to Detroit, which is where he is accused of using a checking account belonging to the NAACP's ACT-SO group. ACT-SO is a club chaired by Farrah De La Croix for high school students who compete nationally in academic and artistic contests.

"He's not a kid, not there to perform," De La Croix said. "He wasn't up there in Detroit at the awards ceremony as a student. He had not reason to use the account."

De La Croix brought the allegations forward after noticing money missing from the account, which is supposed to help pay for the teens' recent competition.

"I think there is no doubt about the usage of money," said Ron Price, Dallas NAACP assistant treasurer. "The question is how was the money spent."

According to financial records obtained by News 8, there were seven questionable purchases or withdrawals from the account totaling nearly $1,700. Reports indicated he spent $543.46 at a hotel, $56.34 on a cell phone bill, $416.20 on a rental car, $33.65 on gas and he made a $200 and $400 withdrawal at an ATM machine.

"He put his own needs, or lack of reading his card, before the students; and he knew the hardship we were going through to get these funds in the first place," De La Croix said.

State NAACP officials are in the process of conducting an audit on the local chapter, and some members are asking that Thomas step down.

"The president has the right to be innocent until proven guilty [and] the right to answer the questions when they're asked," Price said.

Thomas, who declined an opportunity for an on-camera interview, later responded to the accusations in a phone call.

"I would never intentionally steal from the branch, nor would I steal from the children," he said, refusing any further comments.

E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com