Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Generous gifts have been received by Little Falls Youth Hockey after a former treasurer was found to have. Little League offers guidelines to community leagues and training and information for volunteers. Little Falls Youth Hockey Association: Rankings: 199 th - Minn-Kota Peewee B; 282 nd - Minnesota 12U; Location: Little Falls, MN : Record: 18-23-1: Head Coach: Goals (GF-GA) 146-177: Team Manager: Division(s) MN D15 - Peewee B1; Social Media: Website: Notifications: Subscribe: Trophies: Games; Rating Math; Last 10 Math; Date Time Opponent Location Two board members are also required to extensively review the clubs books monthly. That thought is what usually sparks theft, often in smaller amounts of $100 or less, at youth sports leagues investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, said Detective Sgt. Charities with less than $50,000 in revenue like 21Shore youth sports leagues can file an annual Form 990-N, a simpler version of the form. From a work-release facility where he is confined after serving several months in jail, Kevin L. Baker said he stole more than $200,000 from the Kent Little League in Washington State because he was trying to survive financially. Brian Farley, Tri-Boros former longtime treasurer, repenting publicly to club members in 2013 as part of his guilty plea for embezzling money from the club. Little Falls Youth Hockey Inc. lock Unlock financial . "Oh, it's such a shame," they said about the team. Meanwhile, the clubs board members, facing a host of unpaid bills, were suddenly desperate to keep Tri-Boro solvent. More than $90,000 was embezzled from a Minnesota youth hockey association, and the group's treasurer has been charged with stealing the funds and using the money on personal expenses. Youth hockey treasurer charged with embezzling over $90K The ruse was discovered when board members regained access to the true bank records and found an account that should have contained $130,000 instead held just $13,000. "There was extreme reason to believe that something's going on or might be going on," Bennion said at the time. The Trusted Grown-Ups Who Steal Millions From Youth Sports, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/sports/youth-sports-embezzlement-by-adults.html. practices during the week and 2-3 games on the weekend. She got in over her head, and it probably snowballed on her.. A new treasurer or president who is elected to lead a Little League or American Youth Football (AYF) team takes a look at the financials and reports something fishy to law enforcement. Sometimes, an unpaid bill is the spark that launches an investigation. Yes, everyone starts out with the best intentions, but then something usually goes wrong and no one is really watching.. A review of bank statements compared with board meeting notes resulted in the discovery of large discrepancies. "Failure to do so can result in a loss of charter with Little League International," said Kevin Fountain, director of media relations for Little League International. Per a criminal complaint filed in the early summer, a former Little Falls Youth Hockey treasurer could not account for around $90,000 of association funds that had gone missing. Mr. Farley, who has remained in the Allentown, Pa., area, has been paying back the money at about $225 a month and recently told another board member that he intended to pay back the roughly $60,000 he owes the club. She got in over her head, and it probably snowballed on her.. For the latest news and updates follow Little Falls Youth Hockey on social media! ESPN to feature Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association embezzlement case By Art Aisner The theft of nearly $1 million from an Ann Arbor youth hockey league by a former bookkeeper will be featured on an upcoming ESPN broadcast, officials said Thursday. Bantams:Bantamsshould expect 3-4practices during the week and 2-3 games on the weekend. Target's new program for fast and free returns has arrived in the Twin Cities. There are weeks these plans do not work out. "Nobody wants to dampen the enthusiasm of those who volunteer and give and perform public service on behalf of youth sports leagues. "I was guilty of being in a bad situation," she told the judge. WYANDOTTE, Mich. (FOX 2) - A mother entrusted as the treasurer for a youth hockey program is accused of embezzling $30,000. Middletown Little LeaguePresident John Marsini Jr., didn't learn that league'stax-exempt status had been revoked until a sponsor brought it up. Kinsmann has started to wonder whether she gets any value in the more than $400 she pays for her two kids to register with Holbrook. Take Holbrook Little League, for example. Richard Lo Murro, an attorney representing Del Vecchio, said he hasbeen in contact with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. Little Falls Flyers A: MN D15 - Bantam A; 9-14-2: 86.17: Little Falls Flyers B1: MN D15 - Bantam B1; 9-25-3: 79.27: Peewee: Little Falls Flyers A: MN D15 - Peewee A; 5-18-0: 85.02: Little Falls Flyers B1: MN D15 - Peewee B1; 16-19-0: 79.75: Squirt: Little Falls Flyers A: MN D15 - Squirt A; 17-8-0: 89.6: Little Falls Flyers B1: MN D15 - Squirt . When one parent asked last year for a copy of the most recent annual tax document the league is three years behind in reporting to the IRS Lehmann said the board was "in the process of putting that together," according to emails obtained by the Press. The 49-year-old has a history of fraud and theft. One watchdog estimates that parents spend $800 million on youth sports in New Jersey, and the 150 youth sports leagues in Monmouth and Ocean counties brought in $18 million in revenue last year. Coaches and other club members have adapted to new policies mandating invoices and receipts for any reimbursable expenses, regardless of how small the sum. But that's not the case at all leagues, despite experts agreeing that transparency is critical and one of the best practices for any youth sports league to stop theft before it happens. Erik Carrozza, the founder of the Center for Fraud Prevention, said: Someone can easily skim 20 percent off the top and it will not be noticed for a while. Start Planning Your Trip Let's Get Social LFYH never turns a child or family away! He soon learned that the league hadn't properly filed a Form 990 in over seven years, which Marsini said was due to a clerical error: A former treasurer included the wrong identification number and post office box. "You're stealing from children We're supposed to be a community. District of Minnesota | Former President Of Little Falls Credit Union LITTLE FALLS - The Rink Live This website is powered by SportsEngine's. Youth hockey association for Little Falls and surrounding communities. Minnesota State High School League. 5) Paste the link into your address bar and press enter. In a story that's become all too familiar in Minnesota youth hockey circles, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association has fallen victim to embezzlement by one of its own employees, with approximately $90,000 stolen over a span of about three years. Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Generous gifts have been received by Little Falls Youth Hockey after a former treasurer was found to have. Alonso-Heath is not in custody. By Leroy Polk. The 70-year-old is accused of misappropriating funds. Investigators and prosecutors in several states say embezzlement investigations involving youth sports have become common, almost always committed by unpaid board members who are highly regarded in their communities. Youth hockey embezzlement leads to community service Nevin Mann, whose children play for Holbrook, said there's room for improvement when it comes to keeping financial records open. USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety. Team Information - MYHockey "But does that mean we abandon the youth sports leagues? Wayzata's Talla Hasen joins a growing list of past SRJ Award winners. ESPN to feature Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association embezzlement case The number of kids, registration fee and expenses stayed flat. "It's all got to be done by separate people.". We see that you have javascript disabled. Kinsmann, the Jackson baseball mom who has routinely questioned about the league, said her family has "zero trust" in the Holbrook Little League, she said. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement little falls youth hockey embezzlement. "Everything that was an issue is being actively worked on. She used the funds to save her home and her car. LFYH, Attn: Donations, PO BOX 91, Little Falls, MN 56345. The Kent Little League was actually in debt, owing uniform manufacturers $20,000. That money gets spent in a variety of ways. Such legislation would be a good start, but theres more work to do, Malinowski said. Instead, they have sought voluntary donations and have been delighted by the number of people who have been willing to help fill the fiscal hole. "We can't let an alleged misappropriation of over $100,000 go unanswered without putting more accountability and transparency into the law.". The only people who knew when a board meeting had been scheduled were board members. Youth hockey embezzlement leads to community service By Nick Morgan of the Mail Tribune Mar 19, 2021 07:14 PM. In an email, Stafford SC President Roger Budd said the club's board was "aware of the status of its 501(c)(3) and is in the process of having it reinstated" but did not detail what had led to the violations. News Revenue. Former Eagle River Resident Sentenced for Embezzling Approximately "Motherhood, apple pie and Little League, to me, they're all together," Dancer said. According to a criminal complaint, police were alerted to "large sums of money" stolen from the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association "over the last few years." "They just don't have that background," Malinowski said. Bank records matched the timeframe of Alonso-Heath's story. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath later admitted to police that she had taken the money for personal use and to pay her bills, and is facing up to 20 years in jail per Minnesota state law. A new chapter in the world of gardening is set to begin in Fergus Falls, as Lakes Area Grow Co. announces the grand opening of its retail store on Friday, May 5th. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Yet revenues increased 7 percent about $42,000 "virtually overnight," Whitehead said. When two Holbrook Little League leaders were charged with misappropriating more than $118,000 in league funds six months after the Little League World Series, it sent a shockwave across the youth sports landscape in New Jersey. While insurance will cover roughly half of the LFYH losses, their plans for arena upgrades including putting a roof over their outdoor ice sheet and improving the press box in their indoor arena have been put on hold because of a lack of funds. President of the youth hockey association, Carmen Johnson, contacted Little Falls police in June of this year and told investigators that Alonso . Donations to the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association can be made by Venmo at @LittleFalls-YouthHockey or by mail to LFYH, PO Box 91, Little Falls MN 56345. Displaying Results 701 - 710 of 3774 Fall Classic: All-Tourney Team, Highlights. At Holbrook Little League, it was an anonymous letter to prosecutors casting suspicion over Anthony Del Vecchio and John Lehmann, the president and treasurer who were eventually charged with misappropriating $118,000. With the money being gone now, it makes it impossible to do any of the improvements to the arena and impossible to put a roof over the outdoor sheet of ice that we have, said Carmen Johnson, the LFYH president, who said that the association tries to self-fund arena improvements to prevent increases in the cost of ice time. Schools: Little Falls High School, Pierz High School. In a close-knit community with fewer than 9,000 residents, the crime came as an unpleasant surprise to just about everyone involved. On the ice he also officiated more than 300 minor professional hockey games and four USA Hockey National Championship contests. Its very rewarding. I got in a bad situation, and when youre in a bad situation, you make decisions that you wouldnt normally make.. The complaint concludes that Alonso-Heath wrote or cashed fraudulent checks in the amount of $86,951.69 in addition to withdrawing $5,814.34 that went to car and utility payments. A Form 990 is the only nonprofit financial document required to be open to anyone who asks for it. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath later admitted to police that she had taken the money for personal use and to pay her bills, and is facing up to 20 years in jail per Minnesota state law. Whitehead's three rules also apply when it comes to the hundreds in cash that parents raise through league-operated snack stand, or smaller fundraisers such as raffles, bake sales or literally passing a can around at league events.
