(MANSFIELD, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that a third individual has now been indicted in connection with the improper use of more than $200,000 in scholarship funding meant for student athletes graduating from Mansfield Senior High School.
A Richland County Grand Jury indicted Cheryl Patrick, 57, the president of the Mansfield Tyger All Sports Booster Club, now known as the Richland All Sports Booster Club, on the following eight charges:
- Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, a felony of the first degree
- Complicity to Aggravated Theft, a felony of the third degree
- Complicity to Grand Theft, a felony of the fourth degree
- Complicity to Attempted Theft, a felony of the fourth degree
- Complicity to Money Laundering, a felony of the third degree
- Filling Incomplete, False, and/or Fraudulent Returns, Three Counts, a felony the fifth degree
According to special prosecutors with the Attorney General's Office, the money from the Mansfield Tyger All Sports Scholarship Trust was used to pay for costs associated with the booster club's bingo operation.
"This defendant knew that the hundreds of thousands of dollars funneled out of the trust could only be spent on student scholarships," said Attorney General DeWine. "However, this defendant, and the others involved in carrying out these crimes, chose to spend the money in ways that benefitted themselves, not the students."
In July, prosecutors indicted Kendall and William Clemons, trustees for the booster club, on similar charges. The club itself was indicted of five charges.
The couple is scheduled for trial on March 13, 2014.
The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840