Charlevoix school sports booster club's treasurer accused of embezzlement in Michigan

 The treasurer of a middle school/high school sports booster club has been charged with embezzling money from the organization, Michigan State Police said Friday.

Marian Lewis has been arraigned in 90th District Court in Charlevoix on a felony charge of embezzlement from a nonprofit more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, officials said. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

A judge scheduled her next court date for Nov. 5.

Detectives with the state police's Gaylord Post were called by the Charlevoix Sports Boosters to investigate a complaint of embezzlement by Lewis, who was recently elected the group's treasurer, police said.

Board members called police after they noticed two checks from the club's checking account were written out to her, according to authorities.

Investigators found cash withdrawals and a debit card transaction she had also made, officials police said.

Charlevoix is about 275 miles northwest of Detroi

Former Atascadero High band booster club treasurer to serve jail time for embezzlement

The woman who admitted to embezzling thousands of dollars from the Atascadero High School Band and Pageantry Booster Club was sentenced Wednesday to about six months in jail and three years of probation.

While holding back tears, Sherry Gong told the court, “I feel so sorry.”

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn Duffy handed down the sentence to Gong while denying the request for the minimum sentence of about 10-30 days in jail and a motion that would reduce the crime from a felony to misdemeanor.

Gong pleaded guilty in August to three charges of embezzlement filed against her.

The criminal complaint alleges she stole a total of $32,554 from the organization on three different occasions between July 2017 and April 2018 while serving as treasurer of the Atascadero High School club.

Gong’s attorney, Guy Galambos, said his client has no criminal history and that she approached the director of the band before police were made aware of the missing funds, but was turned away.

A statement from a booster club member that was read in court Wednesday said, “The embezzlement crime destroyed our financial security.”

The club claims it was unable to offer scholarships due to lack of funds.

“Sherry Gong was trusted… She also betrayed the high school, community,” the statement read, continuing, “Sherry Gong knew what she was doing when she took from the kids.”

After charges were filed against her in July, Gong admitted to taking the money. Galambos said a close family member had begged her for money, saying he needed it as a matter "of life or death." Galambos said before an investigation began, Gong was already raising money from other family members and selling personal jewelry with the intent to pay back the funds.

She is scheduled to begin serving her 180-day sentence Dec. 2.

Gong was also ordered to not volunteer or be employed in a capacity where she has financial responsibilities.

Gong is the wife of San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong.

Man accused of embezzling $64000 from wrestling clubs in Wyoming

The man acting as treasurer of two local youth wrestling clubs is accused of stealing a total of $64,827 since 2017.

Steven D. Johnson, 44, made his initial appearance on two counts of felony theft Monday afternoon in Circuit Court.

The maximum penalty on each count is 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Johnson became treasurer of the Gillette Wrestling Club in October 2017 and of the Camel Kids Wrestling Club in June 2018.

He was part of the latter club’s organization for almost 13 years and been on the board for most of that time, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

In late August, the Camel Kids Wrestling Club had gathered evidence about Johnson’s alleged use of the club’s debit card for personal use, many of the charges made on Amazon and at Walmart, but not for club purposes. The board confronted Johnson about the charges and he allegedly admitted to spending the club’s money for his personal use, according to the affidavit.

He agreed to pay back the $11,000 that the club thought at that time that was missing.

But board members decided to report the embezzlement to police instead after learning that he also was allegedly embezzling from the Gillette Wrestling Club, according to the affidavit.

The Gillette Wrestling Club discovered Aug. 31 that its account at Wells Fargo Bank was closed because it was overdrawn. Board members also learned he’d drained a different account at Campco Federal Credit Union and had opened a new account at Pinnacle Bank with a $4,000 donation to the account and it is in arrears, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

She began to investigate and found some fraudulent charges that totaled $11,170 on the club’s debit card in August.

But as the club continued to investigate, it found more money missing, according to the affidavit. The money generated from two raffles and registration fees also came up short. The total deposited should have been at a minimum $63,180, but only $47,000 had been deposited — a difference the club attributed to cash payments.

Between the debit card payments and the short deposits, the club figured it lost $26,650.

For the Gillette Wrestling Club, the board found $30,167 worth of fraudulent withdrawals from two bank accounts, which Sifuentes said were spent on a variety of things from contact lenses to city utility bills to Amazon orders to hotel rooms at tournaments.

It also lost the $4,000 deposit at Pinnacle plus was at least $1,937 in the red on it. It also found another $2,073 that hadn’t been deposited from a recent fundraising event.

The two clubs vowed to continue to operate even though it may take more donations to make that happen.

“We teach these kids that sometimes they may be down, but never out, and the same is true for our entire program,” Johnson wrote.

Lico Sifuentes, president of the Gillette Wrestling Club, said they were shocked to find the account empty at Wells Fargo.

“(Board member) Denise (Igo) was in tears and I was almost in tears,” he said. “I don’t know how somebody could do this.”

Johnson would come to board meetings with information about the accounts, but “we never made him prove anything” — something in hindsight he said every board should do. The bills were paid, so they had no reason to believe that the money wasn’t where he said it would be, Sifuentes added.

He now believes that all nonprofit clubs should ask to see the actual bank statements, that each should demand that two people from the club should be listed on banking accounts and that banks shouldn’t be allowed to open a non-profit account without at least two people from the club signing off on it.

The Gillette Wrestling Club said that it has made changes to its organization to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, it said in a letter.

The group hosts the annual Pat Weede Memorial Wrestling Tournament, offers local scholarships for wrestlers from both Campbell County and Thunder Basin high schools and covers travel expenses for local wrestlers competing at the national level.

The money that Johnson is accused of taking came from donations and fundraisers, not the Campbell County Public Recreation District Rec Mill grant, which is still intact, the club said in a letter.

“We are saddened by this deceit,” the club said. “However, we are going to move forward to get to the bottom of the financial issues, in addition to making the needed preparations for a successful Pat Weede Memorial Tournament in December 2019.

“Gillette Wrestling and Camel Kids have been helping wrestlers in this community for many years. And, with the help of the multitude of wonderful people surrounding us, the good work of these organizations will continue for the youth of our community,” the board said.

Mike Johnson, Camel Kids chairman, said in a letter that to discover the money missing “was particularly shocking” because it was allegedly taken “by a person within both the organizations who was in a position of great trust. It is this that hurts the most.”

“Despite this huge setback, we will not allow any criminal act to defeat our spirit or the continuation of either Camel Kids or the great work of Gillette Wrestling,” wrote Johnson, who is not related to Steven.

The Camel Kids Club believes that the thefts began about a week after Johnson was elected treasurer. A board member was alerted to problems in May when a Casper hotel called to report that it hadn’t received payment for rooms that were reserved for an upcoming event. Johnson said he would take care of it. But it still hadn’t been paid a few days later when the board member got a second call from the hotel, according to the affidavit.

Treasurer accused of embezzling over $100,000 from Elkhorn High School show choir

The treasurer of nonprofit organization that funds the Elkhorn High School show choir is in the Douglas County Corrections Center.

Omaha police booked Katrina Christensen on Tuesday morning for theft by deception and embezzling more than $5,000 from the Elkhorn High School pARTners, Parents for the Arts.

In court Wednesday, Douglas County prosecutors said Christensen embezzled $116,625.94. Prosecutors said Christensen wrote personal checks under the non-profits name, applied for personal loans under the nonprofits name and used the nonprofits debit and credit cards for personal use.

Investigators believe Christensen had been stealing money since 2015.

In emails obtained by KETV Newswatch 7, the all-volunteer board of directors made parents aware in early February of "significant losses to our pARTners bank account, inconsistent with previously reported balances."

The board told the parents it made the discovery in late January, a week before the choir's Red Carpet Classic event.

The money raised for the booster organization helps students with travel to show competitions, costumes and other necessities.

Elkhorn High School pARTners, Parents for the Arts sent us this statement:

"We appreciate your concern for our students and program. In the interest of allowing a criminal case to proceed without added prejudice and protecting minors affected by the situation, we are declining to comment at this time on details of our account and any specific activity around it. While we are understandably shocked and disappointed by the discovery of financial losses, we respectfully ask that you allow our volunteer organization to process the situation without interference. We are proactively moving forward, implementing changes to ensure that nothing like this happens again. We are committed to continuing our work of supporting our students in the Arts programs at Elkhorn High."

Elkhorn Public Schools sent us this statement:

“When the matter was brought to the administration by the booster club leadership, we promptly encouraged them to contact the police. We await the outcome of the investigation, and full restitution of the funds intended to support our choral music students.”

Somerset Woman Stole $34K from Athletic Club to Pay Mortgage

 A Somerset woman is being charged with stealing over $30,000 from a high school athletics organization.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office issued a complaint Thursday morning against Dulce Pacheco, 51, of Somerset, charging her with one count of larceny over $1,200 by single scheme.

Gregg Miliote, the spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, says Pacheco is alleged to have stolen $34,500 in December 2017 from the Somerset Berkley Regional High School Athletics Booster Club. Pacheco was the treasurer of the organization

Pacheco is alleged to have used the cash to pay the mortgage on her home.

Miliote says the investigation into the alleged theft began in December 2018 after the Somerset Police Department became aware of "talk" of the supposed crime. Somerset Police referred the matter to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. Michael Scott, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit of the DA's Office, investigated the allegations with the assistance of the School Resource Officer assigned to Somerset Berkley Regional High School, James Roberts.

Pacheco will be summonsed to appear in Fall River District Court on March 18 for arraignment on the single charge.

Ex-cheer gym staff member charged with embezzlement

The Front Royal Police Department has arrested a person formerly affiliated with Virginia Revolution Athletics, a Front Royal cheer gym, accusing her of embezzling money from the cheer gym’s business account.

Police Sgt. Jason Winner said that Donna Rogers, 59, of Front Royal, transferred $3,200 from the United Bank account of the cheer gym into her own personal United Bank account on Sept. 18 without having the authorization to do so.

“Donna was affiliated with the business, with Virginia Revolution Athletics, and both bank accounts were with United Bank here in the Town of Front Royal,” Winner said. “But again, she was not authorized to transfer that money from the business account to her personal bank account.”

When reached for comment, Rogers, who was arrested Feb. 15, hung up the phone.

According to an affidavit for a subpoena of bank records, Trisha Hart, the owner of Virginia Revolution Athletics, notified the police department on Oct. 18 that Rogers embezzled $13,700 over five bank transfers between July and September of 2018. Since then, Hart has sued Rogers in five separate civil lawsuits.

In a news release, Hart’s attorney, Phillip Griffin II, stated that Rogers “has been volunteering with” Virginia Revolution Athletics and Hart and Sole Shoe Company, both of which Hart owns, and has been “interfering with client contracts, usurping her local practice area and withholding various equipment, uniforms and shoes.”

But while police have inspected at least five bank transfers from Virginia Revolution Athletics into Rogers’ bank account, Rogers has only been charged with the $3,200 Sept. 18 bank transfer.

Rogers has a prior record of some financial crimes dating back to 1985, according to court records. Court records show she was charged in 1985 in Oklahoma with issuing bogus checks, and in 2007 in West Virginia of involvement in felony fraud schemes.

In addition, Rogers had a record of a 1988 embezzlement charge in Virginia, the court records show.

In a phone interview, Hart, who described Rogers as a former staff member for the cheer gym, said that she was aware of the 1988 case before Rogers began working at the gym.

“We did know of her 1988 charges, but that was 20 years ago,” Hart said. “Who would’ve thought she would do it again?”

Hart stated in an email that Rogers’s alleged embezzlement has had a significant impact on Virginia Revolution Athletics.

“The lost revenue has had significant consequences to our organization,” Hart stated. “It has impacted the local community greatly.”

City All-Star Football Game will be played despite embezzlement scandal, attorney says

On Friday, the Inquirer reported that West Catholic football coach Brian Fluck was no longer president of the Philadelphia City All-Star Football Game’s four-member executive committee, after questions arose about missing committee funds. Since then, coaches and players around the city have grown concerned about the game’s status. In previous seasons, the 100-player roster was chosen in mid-February.

“The game is crucial,” Sytsma, who just completed his second season as Frankford’s coach, said Wednesday night. “It’s the fabric of high school football in Philly over the last 44 years. Can’t lose it. It’s gotta be played.”

The game, played last year at Northeast High on May 19, “will proceed as scheduled,” said Fortunato N. Perri Jr., a lawyer representing the game’s executive board. Details were not provided.

In a statement Wednesday, Perri wrote that “the Executive Board is committed to continuing the opportunity for future players for decades to come.”

The statement also alleged that Fluck, who has been West Catholic’s coach since 1999 and is a 1988 graduate of the school, embezzled and misappropriated funds while president, a title he held for 10 years. West Catholic has placed him on administrative leave.

Several members of the game’s larger 16-person board (now minus Fluck) have said that at least $50,000 in committee funds are believed to be unaccounted for. Fluck (pronounced “Fluke”) says he “stepped down” from the board. The board says he was “relieved of his duties.”

Fluck has declined further comment multiple times. In a statement, his attorney, Richard F. Klineburger III, wrote that Fluck would “continue to cooperate with West Catholic, the Archdiocese as well as the Philadelphia All Star Game Board to properly clear his good name.”

Athletes and their families have provided paperwork concerning missing or delayed scholarship money awarded by the committee that ranged from $500 to more than $1,000 from 2010 to 2018.

Klineburger said that, to his knowledge, all monies were paid to “every student who properly completed all of the documentation required.”

Perri, the executive board’s lawyer, wrote that all options to recover the “stolen funds,” including the involvement of law enforcement, will be utilized.

For athletes such as Price, however, the city all-star game represents a chance to recover from injury and perhaps a final opportunity to impress college coaches.

His knee and ankle both felt “hot” immediately after the injuries, he said. An MRI confirmed his knee injury in November. Surgery repaired it Dec. 11.

“At the pace I’m going, my physical therapist is pushing me, and I’m trying to get my leg ready for the all-star game," he said. "And yes, I believe I’ll be ready before the game.”

Price, a powerful runner with quick feet, was voted All-Public League as a junior by league coaches. Injuries, he believes, hampered his recruitment as a senior.

“It’s just always been in my heart to play football,” said Price, who attends Sankofa, which doesn’t have a football program.

His mom, Keva Waters, and dad, Greg Price, put him in football when he was 5 years old. He played for the Mount Airy Bantams and Lawncrest before Frankford.

“It would be a dream come true to play in college," he said.

Price is already an academic qualifier by NCAA standards, Sytsma said. He just wants an opportunity to play, and he’s not alone.

“Honestly for some kids, it could be the last football game they ever play,” said Bartram coach and athletic director Jim Chapman.

Chapman, in his sixth year as coach and administrator, guided the Public side last year.

“It was a great experience and brought a lot of the city’s kids together, and some of them forged bonds that they’ll have forever,” he said.

Since news of the turmoil surrounding the game broke, Chapman said his players have asked about the game’s status. Sytsma echoed similar sentiments.

“We need all hands on deck to make sure this works,” Chapman said. “It’s not an easy task. We need support from all the former alumni of the game and for businesses to help out and help do this for our kids, because our kids deserve this.”

Former Chilhowie Little League official charged with embezzlement

A jury trial is set for next month for a former official with the Chilhowie Little League organization accused of embezzlement.

Aaron Lee Heath was indicted in a case related to embezzling a rifle that was being raffled off as a fund raiser in 2017, according to court information obtained by WCYB.

Heath was indicted by a grand jury in December and is scheduled for trial March 6.

WOMAN ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED FROM COLUMBUS HS BAND BOOSTER CLUB

A Columbus High School Band Booster is reportedly charged with embezzlement.

Tonya Danyel Holmes was arrested last week.

Sources told WCBI the investigation centers around checks and the band booster club.

Columbus police are only confirming more than one check was involved.

Columbus Schools Superintendent Cherie Labat confirmed to WCBI that a band booster was arrested and that person was not an employee of the district.

However, she did not identify that person.

Inwood woman accused of embezzling from South Berkeley Little League

 An Inwood, W.Va., woman accused of embezzling more than $5,000 from South Berkeley Little League over the course of several months allegedly told police that she needed the money because she was “down on her luck,” according to Berkeley County (W.Va.) Magistrate Court records.

Tabatha Chris Montanio, 37, of Lobo Lane was charged on one felony count of embezzlement, court records said.

She was released on a $10,000 bond, records said.

The embezzlement by the defendant, who was identified as the Little League committee’s treasurer, allegedly occurred between December 2017 and August, according to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Trooper G.W. Merkich III.

The transactions in question include several personal checks and cash withdrawals, including payments to Musselman Middle School Cheer Team, O’Roke Photo, FirstEnergy, Potomac Edison and “Fuzzy Tail,” court records said.

Memorandum entries list the defendant’s address, records said.

The total amount allegedly taken was $5,199.37, court records said.

The alleged embezzlement, which was reported to police in August, was discovered when the organization attempted to put a down payment on a suppression system for its concession stand required by the state fire marshal’s office.

When league officials provided debit-card information to the contractor, the organization discovered its account had insufficient funds, court records said. Little League officials told police that the funds only were to be used for the organization.

Organization officials also told police that Montanio passed a background check to be part of the committee, court records said.

When Montanio first was told about the Little League group’s claims, Merkich said the defendant didn’t say anything, then admitted she took the money from the organization, records said.

Exact amount uncertain in Adelanto Little League embezzlement case

The dollar amount a former treasurer will pay back to the Adelanto Little League following her sentencing remains unknown.

San Bernardino County District Attorney spokesman Chris Lee told the Daily Press restitution in the embezzlement case involving Stacy Lynn Blandon will be ordered once more information becomes available.


"Restitution in this matter has not been ordered yet as we are currently trying to obtain information surrounding the exact amount," Lee said via email.

Blandon was sentenced Jan. 19 to 36 months probation after pleading no contest to one count of embezzlement exceeding $950 in value. Pursuant to the plea bargain, the charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

In December 2015, the Daily Press first reported that San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials were investigating allegations that possibly more than $15,000 may have been missing from the league - an amount Little League California District 49 Administrator Martin Hoover confirmed was accurate.

On Monday, Lee said he could not go into specifics of the case as a restitution hearing is pending, but he said a judge will determine the restitution amount based on evidence presented at that hearing.

"Whatever amount we can prove was stolen will be ordered paid back in restitution by the defendant," Lee said. "It's not uncommon that restitution is determined at a later date at a separate hearing."


Blandon was named the league's treasurer for the 2015 season, according to a previous Daily Press report. The DA's office filed charges against Blandon in March 2016, three months after league officials reported to authorities that they found money unaccounted for while reviewing their books.

In their complaint, prosecutors said the wrong-doing occurred between Sept. 23, 2014, and Oct. 20, 2015.


Blandon's no-contest plea also dismissed a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting a criminal offense that stemmed from a Feb. 3, 2015, incident in which she allegedly reported a felony to a Little League official despite knowing the report was false, according to the prosecution.

In addition to probation, Blandon was ordered to pay $235 to the court. Lee said a restitution hearing will be set once an exact amount is determined by the DA's office.

Fairfield Woman Charged for Embezzlement from Little League

Police say that a Fairfield woman embezzled thousands of dollars from the Fairfield Little League over a three year period.
A criminal complaint filed in the Jefferson County Courthouse says that Catherine Lynn Schafer of Fairfield stole more than $13,000 from the Little League.

The case is being handled by the Washington County Attorney due to a conflict of interest at the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office.
Court documents say that between November 26th, 2013 and October 6th, 2014 Schafer submitted “24 claims totaling approximately $13,817.96 for reimbursement mainly to either her name or Jack [Schafer]’s name (her husband) for financial gain.”

The documents say that other Little League members couldn’t account for the purchased equipment or have never seen it. Many of the 24 claims do not have invoice documentation.
Some claims did have invoices filed. Police found that several of the companies represented on the submitted invoices do not exist. In one of those invoices, Schafer was reimbursed $525 for pitching machine balls. She submitted an invoice from 7th Inning Stretch of Cedar Rapids. The company does not exist.

In another incident on March 13th, 2014, Schafer requested reimbursement for $2,500 for Turface, a soil conditioner. Initially, Schafer did not submit an invoice. After being told an invoice was required, she later submitted an invoice from Field of Dreams of Monaca, PA. Police say the company does not exist and the phone number comes back to a call service. Schafer apparently admitted during an interview that this was “a fraudulent invoice she just made up.”

Schafer’s alleged scam came not long after her husband, Jack Schafer was ordered to pay more than $60,000 in restitution for an ID Theft case.

In 2009, Jack Schafer pleaded guilty to forging checks in the name of James Millard totaling more than $20,000. Following the guilty plea, the Van Buren District Court ruled that Jack Schafer’s actions amounted to identity theft.

Iowa law allows a person suffering monetary loss as a result of identity theft by another person to bring action and recover three times the damages. The Iowa Law was designed to discourage the growing crime of Identity Theft and to reimburse victims for the hassles created.
Jack Schafer has not been charged in relation to the alleged Little League scam.
Catherine Schafer is being charged with ongoing criminal conduct and commission of specified unlawful activity, a class B felony; first degree theft, a class C felony; and two counts of forgery, an aggravated misdemeanor.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

No jail for woman who embezzled from school band boosters in Michigan

 The former treasurer of the Haslett Band Boosters was sentenced this morning to $15,000 in restitution, in addition to what she has already paid, for embezzling money from the organization.

Karrie LeFave, 37, pleaded guilty in November to one count of embezzlement from a nonprofit or charitable organization between $1,000 and $20,000 in an agreement with prosecutors that dismissed a second count of the same charge.

The plea agreement called for no jail time. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo sentenced LeFave this morning to restitution and two years of probation, the prosecutor's office said.

"She recognizes that a lifetime of community s8ervice based on these admittedly poor decision has been undone," said her attorney, Takura Nyamfukudza. He added that the total restitution will be $30,000 and LeFave has already paid back half.

The booster club supports band programs at Haslett schools but is run independently of the school district.

The police investigation began in late 2015 after booster club officials determined that money was missing from club accounts. The investigation showed that more than $30,000 was missing and that LaFave was responsible, Meridian Township police said.

Ex-Northside High School football coach faces embezzlement charges

A Roanoke County grand jury indicted former Northside High School football coach Burt Torrence on Friday on charges of embezzlement dating back to 2012, according to online court records.

Torrence, hired last summer as an assistant football coach at Heritage High School, was indicted on four counts of embezzlement of public funds, four counts of embezzlement and four counts of obtaining money by false pretenses, online records show. All of the charges are felonies.

The offense dates, according to online records, range from February 2012 to February 2015.

The commonwealth's attorney, Randy Leach, declined to comment Friday. A schools spokesman, Chuck Lionberger, said the district does not comment on personnel matters, pending legal matters or pending investigations.

Torrence, who coached at Northside for 10 years and won two state championships, resigned his coaching position earlier this year. In April, he told the Roanoke County School Board that he collected a stipend to coach outdoor track but didn't complete the work. He volunteered to repay the stipends. A police investigation began the next day.

In an interview in June, Torrence backed away from his April comments, saying he did not admit wrongdoing when he spoke to the school board. His attorney, Les Bowers, said in June that Torrence was innocent.


"He, in fact, is completely innocent and has maintained his innocence all along," Bowers said in June. "My understanding ... is he said, 'If anyone thinks I did anything wrong, I'll pay it back.' But he doesn't think that he did [anything wrong]. ... We're not talking about a big amount of money."

Reached late Friday afternoon, Bowers said he was just seeing the news and was not yet prepared to comment.

Torrence was hired by Lynchburg City Schools to teach history and serve as an assistant football coach at Heritage High School beginning in August. Spokeswoman Cindy Babb said Torrence has been placed on administrative leave.

Former Stockton Colts treasurer pleads guilty to embezzlement

 The former treasurer of the Stockton Junior Colts Hockey Club pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling $27,205 from the organization from 2012-14 and has paid full restitution, according to the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.

Jennifer Lee Hicks, 35, was charged late last year with embezzling funds during a stint as treasurer that ran from June 2012 to June 2014.

According to the court, Hicks returned $10,000 before charges were filed and repaid an additional $18,655 on Monday, with $1,450 going to the costs of an audit.

Judge Ronald Northup placed Hicks on three years’ probation, sentenced her to 30 days in jail and levied additional court fines Monday.

A felony charge against Hicks was reduced to a misdemeanor because of her cooperation, payments, lack of a past criminal record and her use of retirement funds to pay restitution, the court said.

According to the original complaint filed against Hicks, her embezzling began to come to light in May 2014 when she decided not to seek another term as the Colts’ treasurer. Her replacement as treasurer was the first to begin to realize the existence of financial improprieties, the complaint said.

District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar recommends organizations establish finance and audit committees to review all records on a monthly basis. Deputy District Attorney Stephen Taylor said insurance policies covering embezzlement are a valuable, inexpensive method of protection

West Covina parent accused of embezzling from PTA, Girl Scouts and Little League

A West Covina woman was arrested earlier this month after allegedly embezzling more than $78,000 from the PTA at her daughter’s school, a Girl Scouts troop and the West Covina American Little League, authorities said Monday afternoon.

Veronica Paderez, 37, was arrested on Feb. 4 and booked on suspicion of grand theft after detectives from the West Covina Police Department received reports she stole money from the PTA at Vine Elementary School, said West Covina police spokesman Rudy Lopez.

Paderez had been involved with the PTA since 2014 and had access to the association’s bank accounts. According to the school’s website, Paderez served as the group’s treasurer during the 2014-15 academic year.

A preliminary audit revealed the loss of more than $52,000 from several fraudulent transactions, Lopez said.

Further investigation revealed that Paderez was also involved in the finances belonging to the West Covina American Little League and Girl Scout Troop #4754, Lopez said. The youth baseball group has reported more than $26,000 in losses. Detectives are still trying to determine the exact loss incurred by the Girl Scouts.

Lopez said Paderez’s daughter is in the Girl Scout troop and that an older son participates in Little League.

According to online booking records, Paderez posted $85,000 for her bail the night of her arrest.

No charges have been filed.

Paderez did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Fullerton Soccer Club Dealing With Embezzlement Charges

The District Attorney’s office is investigating the former treasurer of the Fullerton Rangers youth soccer group for possibly embezzling more than $190,000 from the volunteer organization, according to the Fullerton Police Department.

Separately, soccer club officials said Wednesday night the former treasurer, Laura Zellerbach, agreed to a confidential civil court settlement last fall but lawyers for the club told them not to publicly disclose the amount.

The Fullerton Rangers filed a complaint with the Fullerton police department in May, 2015, said Fullerton police spokeswoman Sgt. Kathryn Hamel. The complaint alleged at least $192,000 was missing between 2012 and 2015.

“The case is at the DA’s office,” said Hamel, adding it can take several months to investigate such allegations.

Zellerbach apparently left the Fullerton Rangers before the complaint was filed. Her husband, James Zellerbach, declined to discuss the issue Thursday in a brief telephone conversation.

“It’s a confidential settlement,” Rangers President Raul Valdivia told a reporter during a break in the meeting, declining to give an exact amount for the missing money.

In addition to the alleged embezzlement, the sometimes-heated soccer club board meeting highlighted other issues, including allegations a for-profit company was wrongly operating under the umbrella of the nonprofit soccer club and accusations some non-profit board members were acting in secret or punishing the children of parents who criticized the board by denying them spots on teams.

The full board of directors will meet Feb. 2 with city officials to discuss a range of issues, including the for-profit company. Club officers also must prove at least 80 percent of the soccer players live in Fullerton. The city regulates use of city fields by nonprofit groups.

The club sponsors about 172 teams and Hugo Curiel, Fullerton's parks and recreation director, told those at the meeting that the city wanted to maintain recreational soccer.

But, he stressed that taxpayers pay for the playing fields and recreational, non-competitive use is the city's top priority.

“If there is a for-profit out there,” Curiel said, “that is something that goes above and beyond ...”

Rangers board member Jimmy Obleda, director of coaching and technical development, said all money received by the for-profit group, Rangers Academy LLC, goes to pay coaches.

According to the Fullerton Rangers web site, the academy is for children five to eight years old and those who enroll “will have an enhanced opportunity to graduate into our competitive Fullerton Rangers Club teams.”

Board members said it was the former treasurer, Zellerbach, who suggested they form the private company. Obleda said after the meeting the academy was created in response to requests for parents for more competitive training for their children.

“We thought we weren’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “We were actually trying to do the right thing.” He said the private academy is being dissolved and its work will be done by the non-profit Fullerton Rangers.

According to the most recent, publicly available tax statements, the Rangers bring in about $1 million a year, mostly from membership dues and assessments, and spend roughly $900,000, the bulk for coaches salaries and training.

The Fullerton Rangers haven’t done a full, independent audit of its finances, despite the missing money, because of the cost, board members said.

Sand Creek embezzlement bound over to circuit court in Michigan

An attorney for the former president of the Sand Creek schools band boosters club said Wednesday he will try to repay money he is accused of embezzling and work out a plea agreement.

Jee-Hak Kim Pinsoneault, 34, was charged Jan. 15 with taking more than $13,000 from the club’s bank account during the two years he served as president. Pinsoneault waived a preliminary examination in Lenawee County District Court on a felony charge of embezzlement between $1,000 and $20,000. He remains free on personal recognizance pending his arraignment in circuit court on Feb. 10.

“Obviously, one of the best things we can do is make restitution as soon as we can and work out a plea bargain when we get to circuit court,” public defender John Glaser told the court Wednesday in waiving a hearing on evidence in the case.

Pinsoneault said he agreed with Glaser’s statement when asked by Judge Laura J. Schaedler.

The alleged embezzlement was reported by club leaders in Nov-ember to Sand Creek Community Schools administrators. The Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department was immediately notified, said school superintendent Steve Laundra.

Detective Daniel O’Leary said an investigation revealed approximately $13,000 was missing from the boosters’ club bank account since Pinsoneault gained access to the account as club president on Oct. 13, 2013.

“He is fully cooperating and turned himself in,” O’Leary said after Pinsoneault was charged. No money was recovered during the investigation, he said.

Glaser said Wednesday he has no information about what became of the money his client is charged with embezzling.

O’Leary said it appears the money was gradually withdrawn in small amounts over the two-year period until the account was closed on Nov. 15.

Man accused of embezzling from football program arrested in Mississippi

A man accused of embezzling from a youth football program is now in jail.

Matthew Householder was arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday and charged with embezzlement. Householder is accused of taking money from the Hamilton Youth Football program, where he served as president.

He had agreed to turn himself into authorities last week but failed to do so.

Householder is currently jailed at Monroe County Detention Center awaiting arraignment by a Monroe County Justice Court judge.

Lewis County Booster Treasurer Appears in Court for Embezzling Over $9,000

A Lewis County man has pleaded guilty to embezzling money from Lewis County High School athletic boosters.

Christopher Burkhammer waived his plea hearing and admitted to an information charging him with embezzlement and forgery.

Prosecutors said Burkhammer stole over $9,000 from the Lewis County High School Track Team Boosters while he was serving as the treasurer. 

Burkhammer will be sentenced on April 5.