Bail Project Contacts Families of Repeat Offenders

The Bail Project reached out to Donnie Allen’s family, leaving a voicemail cautioning them against posting bail. Despite this warning, the organization paid his bail, and soon after, he allegedly committed a homicide.

Having allocated over $90 million for bail assistance, the Bail Project has supported numerous defendants, including some who went on to commit murder while out on bail. The organization’s stated objective is to offer “free bail assistance” and promote “family reunification.” However, there’s a growing concern about cases where individuals released on bail by the Project have harmed others shortly after their release. A report from 2024 indicated that they provided $91 million in bail support.

Donnie Allen

Allen was charged with the murder of 27-year-old Benjamin McComas at Cleveland Station on December 14, a couple of days after his release on bail. Allen had previous charges for drug possession and other offenses stemming from an unrelated incident just days before he was released. Initially set at $15,000, a judge reduced his bail to $5,000, which the Bail Project supplemented with $500 for his release. Then, just five days later, he was arrested again for McComas’ murder.

Family members warned the Bail Project that Allen was at risk of reoffending and needed help, believing that if he remained in custody, he could get the support he required. “We knew he would end up like this,” one family member stated. They expressed frustration that their concerns were disregarded, feeling that had they listened, this tragedy might have been avoided.

Allen has a lengthy criminal history dating back to at least 2019, including robbery and assault charges.

His attorney has argued that the alleged murder was “a far cry” from deliberate homicide.

Travis Lang

Lang’s troubles began in December 2020 with an arrest for cocaine possession and other felonies, which included resisting arrest. With the Bail Project covering his $5,650 bail, he was released in January 2021. Tragically, in October of the same year, he shot Dylan McGinnis, who was just 24 years old.

According to reports, McGinnis was helping a friend when he was shot during a drug deal involving Lang.

Samuel Lee Scott

In April 2019, Scott was arrested for domestic assault against his wife, Marcia Johnson. The Bail Project posted his $5,000 bail. Tragically, only hours later, Johnson was found dead with significant injuries. Scott was later charged with first-degree murder and received a life sentence.

Executive Director of the Bail Project, Robin Steinberg, commented that while they were saddened by the incident, they believed the blame shouldn’t fall on their organization. She emphasized a need for broader systemic reforms concerning bail and societal issues like poverty and violence.

Marcus Garvin

Garvin’s legal troubles started in December 2020 when he faced assault charges for stabbing a customer. After the Bail Project enabled his $1,500 bail, he would go on to fatally stab his girlfriend, Christy Holt, in July 2021, attempting to dismember her body afterward. He later pleaded guilty to murder, receiving a 45-year prison sentence.

The Bail Project released a statement expressing their condemnation of violence and concern about serious incidents involving their clients. They noted that such violent cases were rare, highlighting that a vast majority, over 35,000 individuals they assisted, had a high appearance rate in court.