Former Clawson youth sports official charged with embezzling $10,000 in Michigan

FROM DAILYTRIBUNE.COM  -

 A former top official with the Clawson Mavericks youth football league is charged with embezzling about $10,000 from the non-profit organization.

Stephen Manthei, 42, of Madison Heights was arraigned Monday before troy 52-4 District Magistrate Clement Waldmann and jailed on $10,000 cash bond.
The felony embezzlement charge against Manthei, past president of the Clawson Mavericks league for elementary and middle-school age children, comes more than three months after suspicions first surfaced, police said.
Members of the Mavericks organization first contacted Clawson Police back in May about Manthei.
Police said they then investigated the case and determined that between April 29, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010, Manthei withdrew money from the youth football group for his own personal gain.
The money was not authorized to be withdrawn or used by Manthei, police said. During the 2010 season, Manthei refused to turn over financial records at meetings as requested, which led to the criminal investigation, according to police.
Police said Manthei was removed from his position with the organization earlier this year and the new treasurer found discrepancies in the group’s financial records.
Manthei, who is employed as a maintenance worker at the Clawson Manor senior housing high-rise on 14 Mile Road, was arrested there by police on Monday, police said.
He stood mute to a charge of embezzling more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 at his arraignment and requested a court-appointed attorney.
The suspect faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the charge.
Though the Maverick sports teams are not a city organization, the city does maintain fields for the group at City Park where they play their games and helps advertise games, said Mickey Alderman, Clawson Recreation Director.
Manthei is scheduled for a pre-exam conference before Troy District Judge William E. Bolle at 8:30 a.m. Monday.