Between 2005 and 2012, Yéle was managed by Jean (until he resigned after he announced his candidacy in Haiti's 2010 presidential election) co-founder and former chief executive Hugh Locke, and former chief executive Derek Q. Johnson. In August 2012, Johnson resigned and announced the closure of the charity. He said in a statement, "As the foundation’s sole remaining employee, my decision implies the closure of the organization as a whole." Johnson's resignation followed an investigation of the charity by New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, whose office had been conducting settlement talks with Yéle officers over allegations of mismanagement - including improper payments by the charity to Jean, members of his family, and personal acquaintances. A forensic audit conducted by Schneiderman's office disclosed that in 2010, after the earthquake, Yéle had spent more than $9 million, with half of it for travel by Jean and other representatives, as well as salaries and consultants’ fees, and expenses related to the charity's offices and warehouse. Yéle, which remains closed, is the subject of lawsuits in Haiti for unpaid debts.
