We told you last week that the American Red Cross was quick to fire CEO Mark Everson for having a “personal relationship” with Paige Roberts, CEO of the Southeast Red Cross Chapter, as both both are married, and Roberts is now pregnant with Everson’s child. But some in the non-profit community think the sex scandal may just be the tip of the iceberg of a larger, more complicated Red Cross finance scandal. A new editorial by Kirby Sommers, founder and president of a group called Katrina Home Drive, has penned an editorial with some shocking allegations:

This red hot Red Cross sex scandal has sent shockwaves throughout the nonprofit community. But is there something more sinister here? A conspiracy perhaps? Could the Red Cross’ quick as lightning firing of Everson be a cover-up for a much more serious offense?

The Red Cross has stated it is undertaking a forensic audit of monies spent by Everson to determine if any of the charity’s money was used inappropriately as he romanced Roberts. If, indeed, he is found to have dipped into Red Cross funds, then isn’t this called “embezzlement?” Don’t people go to jail for this?

The whole thing is moving very quickly - too quickly for this sluggish bureaucratic agency to make sense to those of us who have kept an eye on their every move for the past several years as we’ve waited for Katrina recovery donations and grants to filter down to needy survivors.

Personally speaking, I’ve witnessed so much suffering on the part of individuals and families that every misspent, missing or misappropriated dollar is one dollar too much to spare. I’d rather see, as I imagine would all who donated to the Red Cross and all who remain in need, Katrina donations and grants used to relieve the mass human suffering which still exists.

During the past few days, I’ve noticed a lot of Red Cross information regarding embezzlement and fraud within the Red Cross disappear from websites - even AOL web pages! In fact, the entire website for the Southeast Red Cross chapter is gone! All that’s left is their address, phone number and the words: “Website under construction.”

I noticed the same thing right after the Red Cross was forced to publicly speak about the Means to Recovery program. Other volunteers and a few journalists also witnessed the changing and disappearance of information.

There is no doubt in my mind that Everson misused Katrina donations. He was having an affair with someone connected to Katrina - and with both parties being married those dalliances had to be paid with money neither one’s spouse could trace. Red Cross money. Katrina donations. Survivors’ money.

The questions everyone should demand from the Red Cross are: How much money was misappropriated - in addition to the $10,000 the Red Cross gave Everson upon his departure for “health care” - and why is the Red Cross not referring to possible misappropriated funds as embezzlement?

I’ll tell you why: Having the CEO of the American Red Cross accused of embezzlement would mean he would go to jail. And it would stop people and corporations from donating, which would be even more disastrous to the Red Cross than any other fiasco to date - the Everson-Paige affair included.

For this reason, I suspect the Red Cross will never disclose its findings of impropriety against Everson - and possibly Roberts, if they look into the Southeast Mississippi chapter’s records - citing confidentiality concerns. The Red Cross will then publicly pat themselves on the back for having done a splendid job and close the door on the whole sordid episode….