Shelby Township Man Charged With Embezzling Over 20K From Youth Baseball Team's Funds

SHELBY TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A Shelby Township man is accused of embezzling more than $20,000 from a youth baseball team's funds raised from charity fundraisers.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced charges against 51-year-old  Joseph Wolf, Jr. in connection with alleged embezzlement of funds from a youth baseball team.

According to authorities Wolf  is accused of embezzling funds between 2012 and 2014 to buy a vehicle, travel to Florida, pay his mother's monthly mobile telephone bills, make a house payment and pay personal vehicle repair bills for himself and other family members.

The money he allegedly embezzled was raised at millionaire parties, otherwise known as charitable gaming events, for the Detroit Metro Stars youth baseball team. Millionaire parties allow individuals to hold a limited number of casino style events on the behalf of a charity. Attendees are able to pocket a small portion of their winnings, with the selected charity receiving the rest.

"The MGCB audits charities to ensure they properly account for and lawfully spend funds raised through millionaire parties," said MGCB Executive Director Richard Kalm. "We will continue to see embezzlement and other crimes unless we address weaknesses in the current Bingo Act that authorizes charity gaming. Criminal and civil penalties for charities and operators are necessary."

"Ensuring the integrity of these charitable gaming parties and bringing to justice those who misuse these events for their own financial gain is something I strongly believe in," said Schuette. "I want to thank MGCB for their diligence in monitoring these types of events and we will continue to work together in the future to protect organizations from greedy and self-serving individuals."

This year the MGCB also investigated two other Macomb County youth charities, the Clinton Valley Little League in Clinton Township and Switzer Elementary PTO in Shelby Township, after principal members of those organizations were charged with embezzlement of charity gaming proceeds.