For the first time, WRAL Investigates is hearing from the chief financial officer of a Durham-based nonprofit that is accused of not paying its employees.

After not hearing from CJF America on Thursday despite numerous attempts to reach the company and its associates by phone and email, WRAL Investigates received a statement from the company Friday morning. It acknowledges that some employees "experienced delays in receiving compensation."

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It says, "these issues stemmed from an unexpected disruption in our internal payment processing infrastructure, not from an inability or unwillingness to pay."

The email statement also mentioned activities that its summer campers do, including one unexpected nugget: "Today, they're at Gipson Park."

WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger read that and went straight to the Gipson Play Plaza in Raleigh.

Within minutes, she spotted CJF America CFO Nick Gallardo, who she recognized from his headshot on the company's website. 

Krueger introduced herself to Gallardo, who continually walked away from her for five minutes, claiming to be on the phone.

"At this point, it really doesn't seem like you're on the phone," Krueger said, approaching Gallardo. "So, I'd just like to get you to answer that simple question. Employees say they are not being paid. You're the chief financial officer." 

"Yeah yeah, I understand the situation," Gallardo said. "So, what we're doing is working with our attorney and our HR specialist to handle the situation. We are completely aware of what's going on with everybody, and we're making sure that we address the situation appropriately."

"Why have they not been paid?" Krueger asked.

"My main concern right now, I have no problem speaking with you, but I’m supposed to be watching over the children right now, so I hope you can respect that," he responded.

Meanwhile, WRAL Investigates continues to hear from more people at other camps and organizations who say they are owed thousands of dollars from CJF America, including Michelle Beckwith, the executive assistant for Our Youth Matters (OYM) in Raleigh.

She says OYM agreed to lease its event venue to CJF America for a summer camp, and, although the camp already occurred, OYM was never paid the $6,400 it was owed.

Beckwith says she observed the camp as it was taking place.

"It was chaos," she said. "They were running around. They didn't have any supervision....that is where my heart lies, is with the kids who have to endure this type of treatment."

WRAL Investigates also spoke with Justin Ferrell, who says he worked for a week for CJF America out of Durham, and is owed roughly $5,000.

"Whereas we might not ever see payment for the work that we did for those guys, hopefully the scales of justice will lean in our favor, and we’ll all have eternal harmony and we’ll be balanced knowing that justice was served," Ferrell said. 

WRAL Investigates reported that the Durham Police Department is investigating reports of employees not being paid at the Durham camp, and that the state's Department of Labor is investigating as well.

The department says it will not release further information until the investigation is complete.