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A 2018 report from a New York TV station found more than 250 reported incidents nationwide of youth sports officials stealing money, and estimated more than $17 million was lost over a multi-year period. Take Holbrook Little League, for example. little falls youth hockey embezzlement. There is another common thread to many fraud cases in youth sports: the scarcity of people running them, which significantly hampers the necessary oversight. It definitely was shocking. 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. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath, 41, of Little Falls, has been charged in Morrison County District Court with one count of felony theft for her alleged role in the embezzling scheme. Johnson said LFYH is not doing either of those things as they recover from the theft, acknowledging that many in the community are already hurting due to the pandemic. According to the Youth Hockey Hub, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association is home to about 140 players. 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. Name Born Year | Latest Team Views; 1. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath has entered a guilty plea to one count of theft in Morrison County Court. Watch Hot Mic: Recapping a busy NFL Draft locally and for the Vikings, USHL hockey: Force down Tri-City in OT to win semifinals series, 'A fairly regular issue,' area animal shelters see no end in sight to overcrowding, Ashley Judd to speak at upcoming YWCA Cass Clay event, Before he quits touring for ministry, Granger Smith to bring farewell tour to The Lights in July, Port: Nearly 15% of North Dakota's House was absent for the last vote of the session. Mr. Farley offered the club and prosecutors a restitution deal; the organizations leaders and the clubs parent group balked. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. We see that you have javascript disabled. Nationwide, the youth sports market is estimated at $19 billion with 32.1 million kids playing in leagues with estimates that it could grow to as much as $41 billion in 2023, despite a string of high-profile arrests in New Jersey and beyond. Dana Quackenbush spends $200 for her daughter to play softball with North Wall Little League. 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. by | Jun 8, 2022 | Jun 8, 2022 In a close-knit community with fewer than 9,000 residents, the crime came as an unpleasant surprise to just about everyone involved. "It's a very small organization, and it's a small community, so you just never thought that would happen," Johnson said. The children of the accused are often best friends with the children of the accusers. Please remember, these are all the intentions of the scheduler. $140,106. After the Press investigation of financial problems at Holbrook Little League, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, R-Ocean, began drafting legislation aimed at making youth sports organization more transparent and accountable. Walz says their proposed budget makes important investments for Minnesota's world-cla 728 Western Avenue, Fergus Falls MN 56537. Per the complaint: "For example, at the board meeting in January 2020, Alonso-Heath reported that there was an account balance in excess of $131,000. Johnson said LFYH is not doing either of those things as they recover from the theft, acknowledging that many in the community are already hurting due to the pandemic. USA Hockey has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth hockey players and other participants. "We are scrambling now to fix the situation," said Marsini, who noted that the league is refiling the last five years of tax returns. But on Dec. 9, 2014, Kents Little League president, Greg Whitcomb, went to an Office Depot and tried to use the leagues A.T.M. ", Now nearly a year after the team of 12-year-old All-Stars including her son, Ryan went on their miracle run, their former fans' tone has changed following a high-profile arrest of the group's president and treasurer. "You definitely have to have an internal control system, checks and balances," Malinowski 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. Over all, the rate of fraud across the youth sports landscape, which includes thousands of prosperous travel teams, is probably small in scale given the vast scope of youth sports. The pair worked at a CPAP clinic in St. Louis Park. Well never see it all, she said. We want opportunities for access, to play and be out there," Whitehead said. "Everybody trusts everybody around here.". . Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. Some weeks you may have more or less practices to try and balance the schedule out. Come play bingo with the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association! Rikki Ellen Varieur was a mom with the Wyandotte Warriors, is a. Hockey players from Little Falls, MN, USA. 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. You try to be a good example to your children, Mr. Farley, whose son and daughter had played for the club, told the gathering. "It might take the whole summer, but we're going to fix it.". As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Despite the pandemic and the bad financial news, Johnson said they expect to have 138 players in their youth hockey system this season, and have a dozen first-year players joining their free beginners program for mites, which is the highest number of new participants in at least a decade. By YHH Staff 09/23/2020, 3:15pm CDT. The organization president told police it had been "increasingly difficult" to get specific account information fromAlonso-Heath during her last year as treasurer. LITTLE FALLS, Minn. As if 2020 needed to throw one more challenge in the faces of youth sports organizers, the people who run the youth hockey association in Little Falls got a true look at their bank accounts in the spring, and what they found was shocking. Revenue. The 49-year-old has a history of fraud and theft. The high school team needs to raise money quick or their season is over. Schools: Little Falls High School, Pierz High School. She has an upcoming court date on October 19. At the Toms River East Little League, treasurer Richard Cunningham who famously donned a gorilla suit as the "Beast of the East" mascot for the 1998 Little League World Series champions diverted funds raised by a gift card sale from league accounts to his own use, part of a $237,000 theft that resulted in his 10-year prison sentence. Bantams, This website is powered by SportsEngine's. Shes a very, very nice woman, and I do not believe she went into this maliciously, intending on stealing the money. Physical donations such as cash or check can be made to the association's PO Box 91 Little Falls 56345. The charging document accuses Alonso-Heath of cashing numerous checks written to herself, in addition to other checks written out to Kwik Trip. She got in over her head, and it probably snowballed on her.. And that simple delineation of responsibilities should be a requirement, he said, as it can go a long way in preventing theft, he said: The more eyes on a leagues finances, the better. She made nearly six-thousand dollars in fraudulent electronic withdrawals to cover things like car payments and utility payments for herself. There were some payments back to the league, but Brian got so far behind.. It wasn't much better for those board members, who have claimed that onlyDel Vecchio and Lehmannhad control of the finances. Peter Odney Starting today, May 1st, and continuing throughout the month, city crews will be conducting their rounds, flushing fire hydrants. People treat youth sports groups as social clubs and vest all their trust in one individual because they all know each other, but these organizations need to be treated like businesses with all the same internal and external financial controls, said James Martin, the Lehigh County district attorney, whose office prosecuted Mr. Farleys case. Alonso-Heath must serve the first 90 days of her confinement, beginning June 18. 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. nonprofit, add geographic service areas to create a map on your profile. "The very next day, the board got together and decided to place a call to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.". Youth sports: Thefts from Little League & other teams, IRS is too slow As I stood on the sideline with other parents at my son's ballgame, a friend told me that one of our team's coaches had been arrested and accused of embezzling about $20,000 from the league's bank. Former Eagle River Resident Sentenced for Embezzling Approximately 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. No one had ever seen anything like that before, Mr. Babayan said. little falls youth hockey embezzlement - facecamplondon.com LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The former treasurer of a youth hockey organization in Little Falls, Minnesota has been charged with stealing more than $90,000 from the nonprofit over. 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. "Motherhood, apple pie and Little League, to me, they're all together," Dancer said. Minnesota Hockey's District 2, the Roseville Youth Hockey Association, and the Coon Rapids boys' varsity program have all been victims of embezzlement or fraud. President of the youth hockey association, Carmen Johnson, contacted Little Falls police in June of this year and told investigators that Alonso . 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. Sometimes, an unpaid bill is the spark that launches an investigation. The inaugural TC Summer Fest is set for July 14-15. LITTLE FALLS - The Rink Live The police have reported that purloined money has gone to dog grooming, tickets to Walt Disney World, illicit drugs, a childs wedding, fishing trips, financial advice, N.F.L. Our donors and sponsors are the glue that holds the association together and makes kid's dreams come true. Below is the intention for practices and games for LFYH teams. The money usually goes to the vices gambling and drugs or day-to-day household needs, Malinowski said. "If it's easy, people are going to do it.". Association Information - MYHockey Elite Prospects - Hockey Players from Little Falls, MN, USA Little Falls Youth Hockey Association Current Section Calendar How to add link to your personal calendars: 1) Select the Show Tag Menu at the bottom of the calendar. 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. Youth Team. "Think about who's actually running these leagues they're moms and dads," Malinowski said. 0:04. In Winslow, Me. Twenty percent for five years ends up being a lot of money.. It often takes suspicious board members or officers to uncover the wrongdoing. "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. Currently, the LFYHA's USA Hockey insurance will cover about half of the $90,000 in losses, leaving around another $40,000 the association will likely never recover. The league treasurer then would deposit the funds in the league's bank account, while the secretary would analyze the bank statements to ensure every dollar is accounted for and make the balance sheet available to board members and the league community at the next meeting. (population 7,794), there were three theft charges against members of volunteer sports clubs in a four-year span, including one person who was charged with stealing from two clubs. They range from the simple announcing meeting dates to complex, including hiring an accountant to conduct a monthly audit, Holbrook board member John Braun said. LFYH never turns a child or family away! 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. Those are just a small handful of examples of crimes committed over the last seven years. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement . 1 practice during the week and 1 practice on the weekends. Usually, it's paid in cash or a check. Canadian youth sports groups are losing millions of dollars to fraud Middletown Little LeaguePresident John Marsini Jr., didn't learn that league'stax-exempt status had been revoked until a sponsor brought it up. 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. Charges: Ex-treasurer stole more than $90,000 from youth hockey "Oh, it's such a shame," they said about the team. Hear what one Holbrook Little League parent thinks of the problem in this video below. 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. "You guys went so far," fans of the Jackson-based team would say. He and his wife, Sheri, have two sons: Sam (23) and Max (20). Tickets for the Great Minnesota Get-Together are on sale. LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The former treasurer of a youth hockey organization in Little Falls, Minnesota has been charged with stealing more than $90,000 from the nonprofit over about four years, according to the Morrison County Attorney's Office. Its a standard question, Mr. Short said. Results are affected by number of high school and juniors home games, home tournaments, and number of district teams at the peewee and bantam level. A review of bank statements compared with board meeting notes resulted in the discovery of large discrepancies. The lawyer quickly became suspicious of Mr. Farleys bookkeeping, especially when the clubs retainer check bounced. There are weeks these plans do not work out. kevin craig obituary walhalla, sc. Multi-sport phenom led Mahtomedi to a 37-17-5 record during the 2022-2023 season and an appearance in the Region playoffs. Of the nearly 150 youth sports leagues at the Shore, only one the Asbury Park Little League publishes its Form 990 on its website. Oversight of those sums is haphazard and not centralized, as there is no national agency in the country watching over youth sports. Follow the MN Hockey Hub for complete Star Tribune coverage of boys' high school hockey and the Minnesota state high school tournament, including scores, schedules, rankings, statistics and more. She explained Alonso-Heath had been the treasurer from mid-2016 until April 2020. ", Most youth sports teams operate as a 501(c)(3) charity, which comes with two major perks: The organization doesn't have to pay taxes on its income, and donors including parents paying registration fees can deduct contributions from their income taxes. USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety. The Trusted Grown-Ups Who Steal Millions From Youth Sports, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/sports/youth-sports-embezzlement-by-adults.html. Nonetheless, in recent years youth sports officials have found themselves forced into unforeseen roles: crime investigator, mediator and crisis management specialist. In a police interview,Alonso-Heath admitted to using the money on household expenses, saying she was in "dire financial need" after moving out of her parents' house in April 2018. I know that hockey people are good people, but this just reinforces it.. Yes, everyone starts out with the best intentions, but then something usually goes wrong and no one is really watching.. Calendar - Little Falls Youth Hockey Association Most organizations survive, but they often must defer buying new uniforms; fixing up insufficient or dangerous fields; purchasing equipment; and financing capital projects. The person who informed police, identified in the complaint as a board member of the youth league, accused Alonso-Heath of embezzling the money for approximately four years, from mid-2016 until her departure from the organization in April 2020. Otter Tail County Included in Red Flag Warning Issued for 20 Counties in West Central, NW Minnesota. 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. 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. Gambling debt has played a role in many cases. 2019-2020, 2023 Heart and Dedication Award: Jordy Hansen, 2023 Boys Goalie of the Year: Carter Casey, 2023 Bantam Player of the Year: AJ Francisco, 2023 Wiz Wyatt Player of the Year: Landon Sampair, 2023 Sue Ring-Jarvi Girls Player of the Year: Talla Hansen.