Global Courant 2023-05-12 21:15:00
The former treasurer of a BC minor baseball league faces criminal charges nearly three years after Mounties says he stole more than $150,000 from the league’s bank account.
Terri Michael, 65, served as treasurer for Coquitlam Little League for six years until August 2020, when Mounties say they received a fraud report from the league.
On Wednesday, Michael was charged with one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of theft over $5,000, according to a statement from Coquitlam RCMP Friday.
“Our detectives have worked diligently throughout this two-and-a-half year investigation to collect evidence, identify and interview witnesses, and support charges,” said Sgt. Karrie Ellis of Coquitlam RCMP’s general research division (GIS).
In 2020, Coquitlam Little League discovered something was wrong with their bank account after hearing from some parents who had yet to receive their refund checks, which had been issued because the baseball season was canceled in response to COVID-19.
On June 9 of that year, the league reported having nearly $230,000 in financial assets. By August, that number had shrunk to $3,000.
“The board was shocked by these findings, as we expect you to be if you read this. We want to share this information with you as soon as possible and ask for your patience while this serious matter is investigated,” Sandon Fraser, the board’s chairman, wrote in an email to parents following the discovery of the lost money.
Following the announcement of charges against Michael, Coquitlam Little League released a statement thanking families, alumni, vendors, sponsors and other baseball organizations for their “uncountable support.”
“That support has allowed CLL to continue to focus on giving each child the best possible experience,” the statement read.
Fraser says the fraud investigation’s conclusion will help the league “continue to heal and move forward from the incident.”
“We are grateful that a conclusion has been reached on the RCMP investigation,” he said in Friday’s release.
Coquitlam RCMP says Michael has been released pending her next trial, which is scheduled for May 19 at 9 a.m.
With files from Nafeesa Karim of CTV News Vancouver
