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NEW YORK, NY May 16, 2008 — A nonprofit group that received discretionary city funds from Bronx Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo is facing intense scrutiny.

Councilwoman Arroyo directed tens of thousand of dollars in discretionary funds to the South Bronx Community Corporation, a nonprofit that has deep ties with her family.

The city's Department of Youth and Community Development has confirmed that it was instructed by the Department of Investigation not to supply documents requested by the press on the nonprofit group due to an ongoing criminal investigation. The organization could not be reached for comment.

However, in a prepared statement, Councilwoman Arroyo defended the group's work on behalf of senior citizens and said she knew of no ongoing criminal probe.

For WNYC, I'm Bob Hennelly.

OUTRO: Last month, the DOI and U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia announced the indictment of two former council staffers for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from nonprofits funded by the council.