SPRINGBORO -- A former Springboro Athletics Booster Association board president and treasurer pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $400,000 from the boosters.
Thomas Harves, 61, of Springboro, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated theft. His sentencing has been set at a later date.
Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell said that in the spring of 2012, boosters contacted Springboro police about discrepancies in the organizations bank accounts. Investigators determined that Harves signed, endorsed and cashed more than 300 unauthorized checks from the boosters' account. In all, Harves is accused of taking $439,455.73 from the boosters between 2004 and 2012.
The investigation also found that he made periodic payments, totaling $281,572, back to the boosters' account, including a lump sum payment of $143,390.43 in June 2012 when he was confronted by board members, Fornshell said.
âOut of necessity, organizations such as non-profits, churches, charities, and similar groups rely almost exclusively on volunteers to conduct their day-to-day financial business transactions,â said Fornshell. âUnfortunately, opportunities exist for those volunteers to misappropriate funds if inadequate accounting systems are in place. This case illustrates why board members of any organization should closely examine their accounting and bookkeeping procedures and implement safeguards to prevent embezzlement from occurring.â
Thomas Harves, 61, of Springboro, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated theft. His sentencing has been set at a later date.
Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell said that in the spring of 2012, boosters contacted Springboro police about discrepancies in the organizations bank accounts. Investigators determined that Harves signed, endorsed and cashed more than 300 unauthorized checks from the boosters' account. In all, Harves is accused of taking $439,455.73 from the boosters between 2004 and 2012.
The investigation also found that he made periodic payments, totaling $281,572, back to the boosters' account, including a lump sum payment of $143,390.43 in June 2012 when he was confronted by board members, Fornshell said.
âOut of necessity, organizations such as non-profits, churches, charities, and similar groups rely almost exclusively on volunteers to conduct their day-to-day financial business transactions,â said Fornshell. âUnfortunately, opportunities exist for those volunteers to misappropriate funds if inadequate accounting systems are in place. This case illustrates why board members of any organization should closely examine their accounting and bookkeeping procedures and implement safeguards to prevent embezzlement from occurring.â
