And if parents wanted to express their concern at a board meeting, they were out of luck. "You can't have the same person collecting the money, making the deposits, writing out the checks and getting the statements," Malinowski said. Oversight of those sums is haphazard and not centralized, as there is no national agency in the country watching over youth sports. Alonso-Heath must serve the first 90 days of her confinement, beginning June 18. 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. Former Youth Hockey Association Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Stealing 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. District of Minnesota | Former President Of Little Falls Credit Union Multi-sport phenom led Mahtomedi to a 37-17-5 record during the 2022-2023 season and an appearance in the Region playoffs. And no one wants to be an organizations treasurer, which is the most tedious, thankless job. 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. It wasn't clear where the funds had gone beforehand. 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. We will provide any child every opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. 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. Playing on the travel team is $125 more. The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook is intended to update and collect USA Hockeys various policies to protect its participants from all types of misconduct and abuse. Most organizations survive, but they often must defer buying new uniforms; fixing up insufficient or dangerous fields; purchasing equipment; and financing capital projects. Such legislation would be a good start, but theres more work to do, Malinowski said. 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. 2) Mark all tags you want to see. Archive In total, investigators found Alonso-Heath wrote out $86,951.69 in fraudulent checks and an additional $5,814.34 in electronic withdrawals went towardAlonso-Heath's car and utility payments. The incident occurred on Sep. 24 of last year in the parking lot of a Blaine Cub Foods. We are able to do this because of generous donations from others and through our outstanding business sponsors! We will provide any child every opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. We want opportunities for access, to play and be out there," Whitehead said. 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. This year, the club is thriving, with a growing membership roll. Mother accused of stealing $30K from Wyandotte youth hockey league - WDIV Home 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. 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. There is another common thread to many fraud cases in youth sports: the scarcity of people running them, which significantly hampers the necessary oversight. A changing of the guard usually tips off prosecutors that something is wrong, Malinowski said. 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. AYF doesn't "believe in penalizing youth organizations run by volunteers," said Chris Petrich, social media and event coordinator at American Youth Football. 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. Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement . 2019-2020 - Youth Hockey Hub The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA 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. According to a Facebook post, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association is putting additional processes and security measures in place to prevent this from happening in the future. Sometimes, there's theft. Twenty percent for five years ends up being a lot of money.. WYANDOTTE, Mich. - A mother is facing charges after officials claim she embezzled at least $30,000 from a youth hockey. 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. 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 first time anyone got a look at the bookswas when Del Vecchio and Lehmann resigned, board member Stewart Bennion said at the time. It often takes suspicious board members or officers to uncover the wrongdoing. 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. Minnesota State High School League. Fax: (763) 569-0499 . Photos from some of last season's memorable moments! "Its privatized, but not professionalized.". USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety. Enter your number to get our free mobile app. 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. 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. The suspect was arrested over the weekend. Dana Quackenbush spends $200 for her daughter to play softball with North Wall Little League. Updated December 5, 2019. Its very rewarding. 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. After 29 Minnesotans were selected in last year's Phase I USHL Draft, how many can the State of Hockey produce in 2023? A new treasurer became alarmed, according to the complaint, when she found the organization had approximately $13,000 in the bank when there should've been approximately $130,000. Elite Prospects - Hockey Players from Little Falls, MN, USA Its nonprofit status was revoked in August 2011. 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). "We want leagues to be open. WYANDOTTE, Mich. (FOX 2) - A mother entrusted as the treasurer for a youth hockey program is accused of embezzling $30,000. 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. Alonso-Heath wrote fraudulent checks totaling more than 86-thousand dollars to herself or cash that didnt benefit the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association. LFYHA President Carmen Johnson said that her emotions ran the gamut from shock to anger to resigned acceptance when she found out. LFYH never turns a child or family away! DNA also linked her to the death of another infant found abandoned in 1999. 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. Little Falls Youth Hockey Inc - GuideStar Profile If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. In a close-knit community with fewer than 9,000 residents, the crime came as an unpleasant surprise to just about everyone involved. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. Little Falls Youth Hockey Association | Little Falls MN - Facebook 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. Our donors and sponsors are the glue that holds the association together and makes kid's dreams come true. "We were all rooting for you. 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. Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey It definitely was shocking. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. - Hockey, Boys Little Falls H.S. According to the Youth Hockey Hub, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association is home to about 140 players. 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. Come play bingo with the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association! 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. There had also been issues with getting the organization's bills paid. Bantamswill play 35-40games throughout the season. Its very rewarding. Little Falls' Kuchinski-Helgeson gets goals in 'dirty zone' By Loren Nelson, SportsEngine 02/06/2021, 3:00pm CST ; 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. 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. Law enforcement officials estimate that they see only about half of the actual fraud in youth sports because organizations often cover up smaller misappropriations to protect their reputations and preserve the ability to raise money in the future. But the club, which needed the infusion of cash, took the deal, which amounted to $55,000. As Mr. Whitcomb retrieved the mail at home not long ago with his 15-year-old son, he saw an envelope from Mr. Baker. 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. The youth sports boom in the United States, fortified by at least 30 million participants, has turned what were once homespun local leagues into quasi-professional enterprises with annual budgets that experts who track nonprofits say regularly reach $250,000 if not twice that. Two board members are also required to extensively review the clubs books monthly. Others are hiring bookkeepers. 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 . 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. Theres always a lot of cash involved in these organizations, and whenever theres cash, theres people eyeing the cash, said Tim Delaney, president and chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofits. 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/ She made nearly six-thousand dollars in fraudulent electronic withdrawals to cover things like car payments and utility payments for herself. Walz says their proposed budget makes important investments for Minnesota's world-cla 728 Western Avenue, Fergus Falls MN 56537. A A. It wasn't much better for those board members, who have claimed that onlyDel Vecchio and Lehmannhad control of the finances. In the case involving Pennsylvanias Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club, Mr. Farleys crime was not uncovered until a new club president, Tino Babayan, hired a lawyer to advise the club about various matters, including its finances. Mr. Babayan learned that 80 percent of the clubs money was missing. 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 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. Youth hockey embezzlement leads to community service "There was extreme reason to believe that something's going on or might be going on," Bennion said at the time. Revenue. Each hydrant flu Walz & Flanagan Visiting State Fish Hatchery. 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. By YHH Staff 09/23/2020, 3:15pm CDT. Little Falls High School; Little Falls H.S. Those steps to make league finances more transparent may soon become state law. Last year, Mr. Baker, who had no previous criminal record, was sentenced to 22 months in jail. The losses also put the association behind on future projects it had planned, such as adding a second ice sheet, and that local businesses are financially tapped out after suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. PROVIDING EQUIPMENT, ICE TIME RENTAL, COACHES AND REFEREES FOR APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR YOUTH HOCKEY PROGRAMS. A county court judge had ordered Mr. Farley to repent publicly to club members as part of his guilty plea, and so there he stood, in front of a throng of children sitting cross-legged on a grassy ball field waiting to play. I felt so guilty; I couldnt sleep at night, said Mr. Baker, who has since been ordered to pay $208,000 in restitution. 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.
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