$650,000 Missing From Youth Sports League, Arrest Likely
DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that approximately $650,000 is missing and suspected stolen from a major youth sports organization in the metro area and an arrest is expected in the next several weeks.
"It's been a very complex investigation," said Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson of the probe into the finances of the Arapahoe Youth League, which coordinates competitive league play for boys and girls from age six through high school.
The AYL coordinates games, officials and scheduling for nine sports for boys and girls. An estimated 6,000 boys and girls, on 400 teams, participate in AYL activities.
Robinson said the theft occurred over the course of five years, and was brought to the attention of the sheriff's office several months ago by the AYL.
"Last July we did bring some information to the attention of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office," said Craig Randall, President of the Arapahoe Youth League.
Randall told CBS4 that when he assumed leadership of the organization last July, he noticed what he characterizes as "some anomaly" with the groups accounting, prompting the police investigation.
Sheriff Robinson said a former bookkeeper with the organization is the primary suspect and that she has spoken with investigators.
"The district attorney is in the loop," said Robinson, who said his investigators will likely file their case against the woman within two weeks.
CBS4 has not been able to reach the former employee for comment, although Randall said she left the organization in 2011.
"We have communicated with sheriff's investigators on a weekly basis, answering their questions and they have requested information," Randall told CBS4. "I don't know the details, but I saw some things that concerned us."
Randall said the AYL is financed by fees paid to it by its member clubs which range from northeast Denver to Parker. He said even with the anomaly, the organization has not had to cut services to its members.
- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com
