Article about Thievery by Coaches in NYT

There are various ways to steal money from parents and kids.   Some organizations have refined it to a fine art. 

In many cases it start's with, "I'm a little short this month. I'll pay it back before anyone notices." Then they can't pay it back and they need more. Then they realize how easy it is.

In most cases all it takes for control is two signatures of unrelated people on all checks. Both organizations I was involved with required two signatures.

As a league commissioner for basketball I was handed two $3,000 checks per season plus another for playoffs to pay referees. I had a separate account for the money. I didn't want to mix in in with my money and make a mistake.

One of my ex friends started living a little large one summer. He got caught. By the time he and three partners were caught they had stolen $2M from the volunteer EMT Division of the Fire Department. Imagine having to tell your kids you're going away for a while. His wife told him don't look for me when you get out. Just sign the divorce papers and return them.

I was the treasurer for several individual teams and one organization fielding about 6 teams in baseball and another 3 in softball that shared a hitting facility and a scholarship fund.  It never occurred to me that I should ruin my reputation for stealing or even having the whiff of it on me.

Opened separate accounts and I insisted on giving financial reports regularly - never less than quarterly that itemized every penny in and every penny out.  We went to Cooperstown a few times and the 6 month budget was over $20,000 and it was a pretty serious obligation to do it correctly.  Over 8 years I'd estimate I handled well over $150,000 of peoples money.  I never had a single question about if it was on the level.  

When teams ended I would refund any residual balances.  I once handed a car dealer worth millions a check for $23.58 and he laughed at me.   I said take it and cash it so I can close the checking account.  He nodded and took it. 

He has since hired my son to work in the shop fixing cars.  I am sure it is because he does a good job for him - but I did point out to my boy that it does matter that people think you are honest.  He got hired partially because he had the benefit of the doubt based on who he was and that the man knew him and his family.

As a CPA I see this all too often in business as well as non-profit world.  I was treasurer for the local LL but refused to sign checks, don't want to be accused of anything.  The crooks always justify it in their minds.  Most of us don't have a defective set of values that are needed to commit the fraud.

The comment in the article about local folks making up boards (paraphrased)...for years I was on the local PAL Board. Anytime I questioned any expense, I was often chided by folks for being too vigilant on a "few bucks". But if nobody is vigilant this kind of stuff happens. And usually caught way to late. 

IMO, if you have the audacity to steal from kids you deserve to be strung up. Literally, figuratively, anyway possible.