Potential conflicts of interest cloud Metro probe of Hope for Prisoners founder

Jon Ponder, a three-time convicted bank robber who was pardoned by President Donald Trump, is under investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department – a scenario that raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, given Metro’s partnership with Ponder’s non-profit, Hope for Prisoners. 

The Nevada Current reported in May that Ponder was banned from the Nevada Department of Corrections pending an investigation into misconduct. Hope for Prisoners, which receives state funding, provides reentry services to Nevada inmates. 

Metro Undersheriff Andrew Walsh and Assistant Sheriff Michael Gennaro serve on HFP’s board of directors. Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill, served as a board member while undersheriff during Gov. Joe Lombardo’s tenure as sheriff. The non-profit is featured on Metro’s website as a community partner and holds its monthly graduation ceremonies at police headquarters.

NDOC denied the Current’s request for public records related to the investigation of Ponder, citing his right to a fair trial. The records requested, NDOC wrote on May 15, “are part of an ongoing investigation and release would jeopardize law enforcement information” that “may be introduced as evidence.” Releasing the documents, NDOC wrote, would “undermine the constitutional rights of a defendant to a fair trial.”

NDOC also declined to reveal the nature of Ponder’s alleged infraction. 

Ponder has not been charged with any crimes. He did not respond to requests for comment.

The Office of Inspector General, which is under NDOC, turned the investigation over to Metro. It will not say why it chose Metro over the Attorney General, given Metro’s relationship with Ponder. 

“Simply because there is a relationship doesn’t negate Metro’s ability to investigate,” says retired Metro Lt. Randy Sutton, a frequent media commentator on police matters. 

Sutton says there’s “some merit” to questioning why another agency “like the Attorney General’s office, didn’t take that investigation forward. But I’m not saying that there’s anything untoward in Metro conducting the investigation because they investigate people they have relationships with all the time.” 

Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is challenging Lombardo in the gubernatorial race, did not respond to questions about the investigation. 

Sutton says there’s a “strong possibility” that Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, given his relationship with Ponder, would present the case to a grand jury or turn it over to a special prosecutor or the Nevada Attorney General. Wolfson did not respond to requests for comment. 

“Here’s the thing,” Sutton added. “The state of Nevada has a relationship with Ponder, too.” 

The state, during Lombardo’s tenure, has expanded its program with HFP. 

Ponder has long been the subject of allegations of sexual misconduct. 

A motion to compel the production of documents in a 2024 lawsuit against Ponder and the nonprofit sought a “letter written by Kristina Wildeveld to the Board in September 2020 informing the Board of allegations of sexual misconduct with clients, mentors, and/or employees of the Company by Jon Ponder, CEO of the Company.”

The letter from Wildeveld was sent in 2020 to McMahill, who was undersheriff to Lombardo at the time, and to Wolfson at their government email addresses. 

Metro and the DA’s office, which also has a partnership with Ponder, denied the Current’s public records request for Wildeveld’s letter. The agencies maintain the correspondence was sent to the officials in their private capacity, and their release is not required under the state’s public records law.  

Lombardo did not respond to requests for comment. He has long refused to say whether he, as sheriff, investigated the allegations against Ponder. 

Ponder was briefly suspended in 2020, however, the board, aware that Trump intended to expand Hope for Prisoners nationwide if re-elected, backed down after the pardon, according to a former HFP board member granted anonymity by the Current in order to share confidential information.

In June, Ponder’s wife, Jamie, filed for divorce in Clark County Family Court. On Monday, she requested a voluntary dismissal of the proceedings. She did not respond to the Current’s requests for comment. 

Ponder, who was previously listed on the Hope for Prisoner’s website as its CEO and founder is now listed only as its founder. The names of the nonprofit’s board of directors have been removed, as well.