Carson Charity Failed to Disclose Business Relationship

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A charity founded by Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson failed to disclose his business relationship with a Pittsburgh dentist who was convicted of healthcare fraud.
Tax returns for Carson Scholars filed with the IRS list Mary Costa as a board member for the past several years.
Mary Costa is the wife of Alfonso Costa, the Pittsburgh dentist convicted in 2008 on healthcare fraud charges.
As reported Thursday by the Associated Press and Mother Jones, Alfonso Costa and Carson have been longtime partners in real estate ventures including an Allegheny County office building under a long term lease with a national insurance company.
Real estate records show the property  located at 1721 Corcoran Road in Mount Lebanon is owned by INBS LLC. The property is assessed for $2.25 million. Carson and his wife are listed on corporation papers filed for INBS.
The Carson nonprofit tax returns, however, fail to disclose the fact that Carson and Mary Costa's husband are business partners.
Carson campaign officials did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment.
The tax returns do disclose that Amy Warner, who earned $130,688 in salary and benefits, is the spouse of board chairman Lee Warner.
The Carson Scholars nonprofit provides college scholarships to promising high school students who would not otherwise be able to continue their education.
It's board members include a former Maryland education official, Nancy Grasmick,  Carson's son and television reporter Sam Donaldson, who retired from ABC news in 2013.
In 2007 Costa was charged with defrauding insurance companies on claims stemming from his oral surgery practice. He ultimately pleaded guilty and in 2008 Carson was one of his primary supporters for a light sentence.
He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and 100 hours of community service.
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