PETOSKEY A former McLaren Northern Michigan hospital marketing and development employee has been sentenced to a year in jail for embezzling more than . We see that you have javascript disabled. Weve had money coming in through donations already, so the hockey community has at least stepped up to support us and help us out as much as they can. Updated December 5, 2019. LFYHA President Carmen Johnson said that her emotions ran the gamut from shock to anger to resigned acceptance when she found out. 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. 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. "If there's no checks and balances, then it's not going to work. It definitely was shocking. A goalie for the Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club in eastern Pennsylvania during a game in May. She got in over her head, and it probably snowballed on her.. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. "We were all rooting for you. Secondary Nation . After Alonso-Heath left the position, the president eventually gained access to the organization's bank account and discovered the balance was not $130,000 as she expected, but rather about $13,000. Prosecutors and defense lawyers say that many others who have embezzled from youth sports organizations have done so because they were enduring a period of financial distress because of a divorce, a job loss or both. 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. 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. On the ice he also officiated more than 300 minor professional hockey games and four USA Hockey National Championship contests. "If there are any questions, there's a lot of openness and there's not a hesitation to ask those questions.". And no one wants to be an organizations treasurer, which is the most tedious, thankless job. The number of kids, registration fee and expenses stayed flat. Holbrook board members have been working on setting up new guidelines for transparency. A software company that had been working on a new league website chose to finish and install the website for free, allowing valuable registration fees to flow into the leagues bank accounts faster. USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety. Tag(s): Twenty percent for five years ends up being a lot of money.. A changing of the guard usually tips off prosecutors that something is wrong, Malinowski said. The 54 year old is facing a charge of theft by swindle. Login and update External reviews Financials. Little Falls Team Info Schedule Section/Conference Schedule Player Stats Conference Standings [instagram-feed includewords="little falls, #littlefallshockey, @lfboyshockey"] Recent Scores, News, & Updates Wild vs Stars game 2 Team InfoScheduleSection/ConferenceIt was a game to forget for the MN Wild last night: DateHomeResultsAwayTimeVenue She's happy with the transparency at the league: The league's website advertises board meetings and anything involving fundraising from annual fees to bus trips is done with online registration. The LFYH mission is to instill the core values of Sportsmanship, Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, Enjoyment, Loyalty and Teamwork within all of our players. Eventually, the players stood and separated into groups. An awkward silence enveloped the grounds. "Think about who's actually running these leagues they're moms and dads," Malinowski said. It wasn't clear where the funds had gone beforehand. 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. "But there needs to be some oversight and greater accountability from a statutory level.". "Somebody questions something," Malinowski said. By Peter Odney 09/17/2020, 11:45am CDT. "You're stealing from children We're supposed to be a community. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. As Mr. Whitcomb retrieved the mail at home not long ago with his 15-year-old son, he saw an envelope from Mr. Baker. For a decade, the league had been soliciting donations and were finally on the verge of buying their own baseball and softball fields. Its very rewarding. As of June, the majority of the leagues were in violation of federal or state laws requiring nonprofits, including youth sports leagues, to file annual financial disclosures similar to tax returns with the IRS and the state Division of Consumer Affairs. Come play bingo with the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association! We see that you have javascript disabled. 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. Last year, Mr. Baker, who had no previous criminal record, was sentenced to 22 months in jail. 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. "It's all about manipulating the system. We never expected this from her. (Little Falls, MN) The former treasurer of a youth hockey association in Little Falls admits stealing more than 90-thousand dollars over a four-year period. I know that hockey people are good people, but this just reinforces it.. Alonso-Heath is not in custody. Shes a very, very nice woman, and I do not believe she went into this maliciously, intending on stealing the money. He knew that no one truly scrutinized the treasurers books he had been doctoring. Nationwide, an estimated 1,100 people have gone to prison and an estimated $1 billion has been stolen from youth sports leagues since 2009, according to the League Network. The BCA is asking other potential victims to come forward. He contacted the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which eventually charged then-treasurer Anthony Gallo with the second-degree theft of more than $400,000, writing checks to himself that he cashed to pay bills, eat at restaurants and go shopping. Youth Hockey Hub says donations can be made via Venmo to username @LittleFalls-YouthHockey, or via mail to the association's PO Box 91 in Little Falls (zip code 56345). "At that point, she was forced to rent a home and make payments for expenses she could not afford.". I know that hockey people are good people, but this just reinforces it.. Some of the association's registration fees and charitable gambling profits also go toward improvements at the Little Falls Exchange Arena, another measure the association takes to avoid raising its participationprices. The penalties for violators range from $10,000 to $50,000 in penalties, or revocation of its tax-exempt status which is what has happened to at least 23 youth sports leagues at the Shore this. A review of bank statements compared with board meeting notes resulted in the discovery of large discrepancies. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. 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. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. Published: Sep. 18, 2018 at 2:12 PM PDT. After 29 Minnesotans were selected in last year's Phase I USHL Draft, how many can the State of Hockey produce in 2023? It often takes suspicious board members or officers to uncover the wrongdoing. A Form 990 is the only nonprofit financial document required to be open to anyone who asks for it. 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. ", "People are always asking, and that's the worst part of it," Kinsmann said. 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. The children appeared confused. "Its privatized, but not professionalized.". Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. . The 70-year-old is accused of misappropriating funds. Please remember, these are all the intentions of the scheduler. In a close-knit community with fewer than 9,000 residents, the crime came as an unpleasant surprise to just about everyone involved. Spring is in full swing as the City of Fergus Falls embarks on its annual water main flushing campaign. A goalie for the Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club in eastern Pennsylvania during a game in May. The clubs board members were forced to dip into their own pockets to help keep the club afloat after Farleys arrest. The arrests came just six months after the league's miracle run to the Little League World Series and 24 hours after the Press reported the league's finances were in disarray, with parents casting suspicion on the duo. A former employee embezzled approximately $90,000 from the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association, leaving a financially-strapped community to pick up the pieces. Little Falls Youth Hockey strives to keep costs as affordable as possible for all of our families and in addition,provideopportunities forfinancial or equipmentassistance for those who need. According to the criminal complaint, the president of the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association contacted police in June to reportthe suspected theft. The stealing of funds happened within an eight-year period. The mites will attend 4-5 jamborees. 3) Select Subscribe to ICAL (apple) or RSS (non apple) 4) Copy the link provided. Youth sports is a big business. Sometimes, there's theft. "You definitely have to have an internal control system, checks and balances," Malinowski said. An Eagle River woman has been sentenced for the crime of embezzling over $150,000 from a youth hockey organization over the span of several years. Take Holbrook Little League, for example. Mites:Mites should expect1 practice during the week and 1 practice on the weekends. 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 stolen about $90,000 from the association. https://www.kare11.com/appredirect/\r Find KARE 11 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KARE11/\r Follow KARE 11 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kare11\r Follow KARE 11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kare11/ Last year, the president of the Freehold Soccer League learned a bill for uniforms was unpaid, but money was missing from league accounts. "It's really sad. You start out wanting to help kids and you end up doing things you never thought youd have to do, said Mr. Babayan, no longer the Tri-Boro Soccer Club president. Multi-sport phenom led Mahtomedi to a 37-17-5 record during the 2022-2023 season and an appearance in the Region playoffs. She was sentenced to 120 days in jail. "Alonso-Heath admitted that she was in dire financial need over the last few years. Expenses. 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. But there isn't a single youth sports league that's had its charity status revoked by the Division of Consumer Affairs, despite 47 percent of Shore leagues listed as non-compliant by the division, according to its charity registry. The pair worked at a CPAP clinic in St. Louis Park. We never expected this from her. Many leagues don't perform a criminal background check on board members and administrators, despite the search being required of youth coaches. Some of the forms can be found on nonprofit watchdog sites like Guidestar and ProPublica. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement . Since 2007, Mr. Baker, who coached his two sons in the league, had been a responsible volunteer at the leagues many activities. In general, there is little data of any kind on how extensive embezzlement is among all nonprofit groups, let alone youth sports associations. This website is powered by SportsEngine's. The organization president told police it had been "increasingly difficult" to get specific account information fromAlonso-Heath during her last year as treasurer. Inside the envelope were two checks for $14 and $11. (St. Paul, MN) -- Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are visiting a state fish hatchery today with the season opener less than two weeks away. Prosecutors in several states say embezzlement investigations involving youth sports have become common. The League Network recommends that there always be a chain of custody two people to witness the cash coming in, and two people counting and recording cash at the end of the event. "The very next day, the board got together and decided to place a call to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.". It is difficult to say whether the problem with embezzlement has worsened or if the growth of the leagues simply means more cases; there is no clearinghouse comprehensively tracking fraud in youth sports. The hockey hotbed that produced Minnesota high school hockey's all-time leading scorer in Ben Hanowski is hardly the first organization to experience the gut-punch of an inside job. Its very rewarding. 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. 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. 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. But investigators say the problem gets little public discussion even as, by some measures, there are signs of mounting cases. The 49-year-old has a history of fraud and theft. little falls youth hockey embezzlement. There will be food to order at 5 p.m. You can purchase a packet of bingo cards (14 games) for $15. 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. 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. Target's new program for fast and free returns has arrived in the Twin Cities. Since gambling came into Minnesota, weve been having problems and embezzlement.. It was time to play. When comparing old meeting minutes to the banking records, the president foundAlonso-Heath reported much higher account balances than what was actually available. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. 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. MORE: Ex-Freehold Soccer League treasurer jailed for theft. "They're not usually business people but youre putting them in charge of running facilities, scholarships and fundraisers. "I think people have their eyes open a little more to make sure that their money is not being taken and used for other things," Quackenbush said. Schools: Little Falls High School, Pierz High School. "In 2018, youth sports is about the least technologically advanced segment of the economy," Whitehead said. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We really appreciate that, said Johnson, who is the mother of four hockey players and the wife of a coach. Little League offers guidelines to community leagues and training and information for volunteers. Parents who are more focused on how their kids are doing on the field often don't know how their registration money is being spent, or who profits. The losses are often covered in the form of higher prices to play, and more need for fundraising efforts. She got in over her head, and it probably snowballed on her.. President of the youth hockey association, Carmen Johnson, contacted Little Falls police in June of this year and told investigators that Alonso . 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. 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. Tickets for the Great Minnesota Get-Together are on sale.

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