When the registration period rolls around, they pay the required fees, anywhere from $50 per child to $300 or more. 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. We like comeback stories.". "They are really connecting Holbrook with this theft rather than the Little League World Series.". The business started strong, then flagged precipitously. Investigators say embezzlement cases in youth sports have become common, as was the case when a Tri-Boro treasurer stole $120,000 from the organizations bank accounts.CreditMark Makela for The New York Times. There are groups that have tried to fill the void, like the National Alliance for Youth Sports, a Florida-based nonprofit and youth sports advocate that helps train coaches and administrators. A Morrison County woman is charged with embezzling more than $90,000 from a youth hockey association over the four years she served as the organization's treasurer.\r\rhttps://www.kare11.com/article/news/crime/youth-hockey-treasurer-charged-with-embezzling-more-than-90k/89-62458ebe-522d-4e85-a9ad-c21b863bddce\r\r\rWelcome to the official YouTube channel of KARE 11 News. Diane Miller, the new treasurer, had pored over the bank records and saw that the clubs A.T.M. The clubs board members were forced to dip into their own pockets to help keep the club afloat after Farleys arrest. It was more money than the league's annual budget at the time, and stopped plans for field improvements in their tracks. There is another common thread to many fraud cases in youth sports: the scarcity of people running them, which significantly hampers the necessary oversight. There are weeks these plans do not work out. These include without limitation Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators. 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. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. "Stealing from a youth league is easy," said Jay Whitehead, CEO and co-founder of the League Network, a Newark-based company that helps youth sports officials raise money and stay on the right side of the law. "Alonso-Heath admitted that she was in dire financial need over the last few years. "But does that mean we abandon the youth sports leagues? Convicted: Credit union fraud, 1 count; Sentenced: 96 months in prison; Five years of supervised release ### Additional news available on our website. Prosecutors in several states say embezzlement investigations involving youth sports have become common. Worse, all the hard work by volunteers raising money for years was lost, Mr. Whitcomb said. Little Falls' Kuchinski-Helgeson gets goals in 'dirty zone' By Loren Nelson, SportsEngine 02/06/2021, 3:00pm CST ; 0:04. 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. "Think about who's actually running these leagues they're moms and dads," Malinowski said. A mother is accused of embezzling money from a youth hockey league. Yet watchdogs of the nonprofit industry note that youth sports organizations rarely put in place routine checks and balances, such as having multiple people in charge of the money, opening the door to fraud. Largest single theft involved $2.4M taken from Ontario Minor Hockey Association. But the club, which needed the infusion of cash, took the deal, which amounted to $55,000. She used the funds to save her home and her car. 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. An awkward silence enveloped the grounds. 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 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. 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. Bantams:Bantamsshould expect 3-4practices during the week and 2-3 games on the weekend. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. Yet revenues increased 7 percent about $42,000 "virtually overnight," Whitehead said. 31 were here. We never expected this from her. The organization president told police it had been "increasingly difficult" to get specific account information fromAlonso-Heath during her last year as treasurer. "We were all rooting for you. 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 incident occurred on Sep. 24 of last year in the parking lot of a Blaine Cub Foods. 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. Rikki Ellen Varieur was a mom with the Wyandotte Warriors, is a. The national organizations will provide information, and Little League also offers clinics and webinars on how to handle finances. Tony sits down with Luke Strand, the new head coach of the Mavericks, to discuss the future of Minnesota State, his coaching history, and much more. 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. Little Falls High School; Little Falls H.S. 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. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath has entered a guilty plea to one count of theft in Morrison County Court. Published: Sep. 18, 2018 at 2:12 PM PDT. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. 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. Offer online registration using a secure vendor or processing firm; do not take cash for registrations. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) ((Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)). "Its privatized, but not professionalized.". Secondary Nation . by | Jun 8, 2022 | Jun 8, 2022 Another 54 leagues are nowhere to be found in the division's list of registered charities, the Press found. It was time to play. MORE: Ex-Freehold Soccer League treasurer jailed for theft. Anyone can read what you share. Enter your number to get our free mobile app. "They are old habits that are both bad and die hard. WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. With downcast eyes and a microphone clenched in one fist, Brian Farley stood uneasily before nearly 400 children from the Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club in eastern Pennsylvania. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Mites:Mites should expect1 practice during the week and 1 practice on the weekends. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Nicolette Coleman-Jacobs of Ashburn was arrested in 2019 and charged with six felony counts of embezzlement, uttering and forgery in connection with allegations that she misused funds from McLean. Yet with the growth and development has come a long list of embezzlement and other corruption cases unfolding in a void of oversight and regulation and capitalizing on community trust. While a preponderance of cases occur in suburbia, there have been dozens of arrests in farm communities and in big cities, too, including Manhattan. 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. "The very next day, the board got together and decided to place a call to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.". 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. Youth hockey treasurer charged with embezzling over $90K KARE 11 210K subscribers Subscribe 4 759 views 2 years ago A Morrison County woman is charged with embezzling more than $90,000 from a. "Motherhood, apple pie and Little League, to me, they're all together," Dancer said. To understand the depth of the problems with youth sports, the Press reviewed hundreds of pages of nonprofit tax returns and police records and analyzed IRS data for every youth football, baseball, soccer, basketball and hockey team at the Jersey Shore. We see that you have javascript disabled. A Press report on the Holbrook Little League's financial mess, published 24 hours before the arrests, launched a push for state legislation that would put stringent transparency rules in place for youth sports leagues. Below is the intention for practices and games for LFYH teams. But investigators say the problem gets little public discussion even as, by some measures, there are signs of mounting cases. The lawyer quickly became suspicious of Mr. Farleys bookkeeping, especially when the clubs retainer check bounced. 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. As Mr. Farley dropped one arm and uncomfortably raised his gaze to the crowd, Mr. Babayan diplomatically stepped forward to grasp the microphone from Mr. Farleys clenched fist. Ben Hanowski (F) 10/18 . And the perpetrator almost never realizes how much they have stolen. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement . 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. 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. Or 46-year-old Deidre Mitchell of Port Huron, Massachusetts, who was convicted of embezzling $11,000 from her local Little League team. 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. 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. (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. 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. Starting today, May 1st, and continuing throughout the month, city crews will be conducting their rounds, flushing fire hydrants. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath, 41, has been charged with theft of more than $35,000. There had also been issues with getting the organization's bills paid. Home But the Press found just 16 of those leagues follow the laws that are supposed to ensure nonprofits stay honest. And no one wants to be an organizations treasurer, which is the most tedious, thankless job. 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. A Form 990 is the only nonprofit financial document required to be open to anyone who asks for it. Other youth baseball organizations Holbrook Little League and Belmar-Avon-Lake Como Little League eachhad their status revoked within the last two months. Two board members are also required to extensively review the clubs books monthly. 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. Farley was basically paying off his bills and living as if the clubs account were his own, said Steven Luksa, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. 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. You try to be a good example to your children, Mr. Farley, whose son and daughter had played for the club, told the gathering. A former employee embezzled approximately $90,000 from the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association, leaving a financially-strapped community to pick up the pieces. 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. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath has been charged with embezzling over $90,000 over 4 years as she acted as treasurer for the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association. Gambling debt has played a role in many cases. Crime or fraud insurance designed specifically to cover youth groups is gaining in popularity. 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 LFYH mission is to instill the core values of Sportsmanship, Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, Enjoyment, Loyalty and Teamwork within all of our players. 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. little falls youth hockey embezzlement. We will provide any child every opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. 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. Those steps to make league finances more transparent may soon become state law. Even after the loss of more than $1 million dollars in recent years, the weak laws and poor oversight remain in place, enabling the next set of thieves to steal from parents and young children, an Asbury Park Press investigation found. And if parents wanted to express their concern at a board meeting, they were out of luck. "We want leagues to be open. The 70-year-old is accused of misappropriating funds. In a perfect world, parents would register their kids for youth sports online, paying the fee on a secure server with a credit card that gives the parent a receipt of their payment, and the league an accurate account of exactly how many kids and dollars are coming in. "When I read about it in the Press, I had to do something," said Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, R-Ocean. Even though local sports teams might carry the names of national organizations like Little League or American Youth Football, the local teams are considered independent entities that are expected to follow federal and state reporting guidelines, officials said. Little League offers guidelines to community leagues and training and information for volunteers. 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. Little Falls, Minn. No one had ever seen anything like that before, Mr. Babayan said. Peter Odney AYF doesn't "believe in penalizing youth organizations run by volunteers," said Chris Petrich, social media and event coordinator at American Youth Football. 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 . However, the actual bank statement for that same period of time showed an ending balance of just over $27,000. 1:09. 5) Paste the link into your address bar and press enter. According to the League Network, the IRS estimates that six out of 10 youth sports leagues nationwide are out of compliance with federal tax regulations, but the IRS has never shut one down, Whitehead said. Generally, no. "It's a very small organization, and it's a small community, so you just never thought that would happen," Johnson said. Updated December 5, 2019. Wayzata's Talla Hasen joins a growing list of past SRJ Award winners. In Wisconsin, a self-described soccer mom confessed to another soccer mom about taking money from the local club, only to discover she was taking even more money. A draft version of Dancer's Holbrook bill would require "youth athletic nonprofits" to maintain a website with access to financial statements and tax returns, conduct annual audits, advertise board meetings with five days' notice and keep receipts for cash payments greater than $25. Falls Ballroom 15870 Minnesota 27 - Little Falls Ready to visit? The money was allegedly stolen over a four-year period. Most Viewed Players Top 10 players NHL Players 1 NHL Drafted Players 1 All Players Alphabetically 143 Most Viewed Players. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. "It's all about manipulating the system. Some leagues have dissolved as a result. We cant let anything go unexamined, Ms. Miller said. Ive definitely gotten teary-eyed when people that I dont know, and people that I do know, step up to help. Subscribe to our channel for compelling and dramatic storytelling, award winning investigations, breaking news and information you can use.\r\rText your photos, videos and news tips to 763-797-7215.\r\r Subscribe to KARE 11 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_\r Watch more KARE 11 video: https://www.youtube.com/user/KARE11/v\r Visit KARE11.com: http://www.kare11.com/\r Download our app! News One New Jersey league, which Whitehead did not name, took on a new treasurer that instituted online registration. Youth sports is a big business. When Mr. Farley concluded his 73-second apology to hundreds of young soccer players, Mr. Babayan, who had exposed Mr. Farleys embezzlement, was standing a few feet away. The money usually goes to the vices gambling and drugs or day-to-day household needs, Malinowski said. But tax deductions are only valid if the nonprofit files an annual Form 990, which outlines revenue, expenses, board members and salaries. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement By Peter Odney 09/17/2020, 11:45am CDT A former employee embezzled approximately $90,000 from the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association, leaving a financially-strapped community to pick up the pieces. 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. 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. LFYHA President Carmen Johnson said that her emotions ran the gamut from shock to anger to resigned acceptance when she found out. Kevin Short, a lawyer who represented a hockey league official in Minnesota convicted of tax evasion after stealing more than $400,000 from a league, said casino debt in fraud cases is so common now that investigators routinely check gambling habits when embezzlement is suspected. For about six months, people would stop Marianne Kinsmann in her tracks, point to her Little League World Series jacket and ask about Holbrook Little League's time in the tournament last summer. 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. The inaugural TC Summer Fest is set for July 14-15. LFYH never turns a child or family away! A past Wiz Wyatt Player of the Year winner as a Peewee, Francisco has taken his game to new heights as a Bantam. A goalie for the Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club in eastern Pennsylvania during a game in May. Alonso-Heath is not in custody. A day after the meeting, the pair were charged by police with second-degree theft. LFYH, Attn: Donations, PO BOX 91, Little Falls, MN 56345. After 29 Minnesotans were selected in last year's Phase I USHL Draft, how many can the State of Hockey produce in 2023? practices during the week and 2-3 games on the weekend. He knew that no one truly scrutinized the treasurers books he had been doctoring. Expenses. 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. Alonso-Heath must serve the first 90 days of her confinement, beginning June 18. Youth hockey association for Little Falls and surrounding communities. 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. Investigators say embezzlement cases in youth sports have become common, as was the case when a. The children of the accused are often best friends with the children of the accusers. By Leroy Polk. Last year, the president of the Freehold Soccer League learned a bill for uniforms was unpaid, but money was missing from league accounts. An investigation by CBC Sports reveals that in the last decade alone nearly $8 million has been stolen from dozens . Their case has not come before agrand jury and the two men have not entered pleas but are presumed innocent. "We can't let an alleged misappropriation of over $100,000 go unanswered without putting more accountability and transparency into the law.". A Medford woman has avoided prison after admitting she stole money reaching five . In a close-knit community with fewer than 9,000 residents, the crime came as an unpleasant surprise to just about everyone involved. 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. This year, the club is thriving, with a growing membership roll. The Kent Little League was actually in debt, owing uniform manufacturers $20,000. 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." 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 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. 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. 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. 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.