UNION COUNTY, N.C. A former high school booster club treasurer was arrested Wednesday on an embezzlement charge, the Union County Sheriff's . They also used clubs credit and debit cards to run up thousands of dollars in personal expenses in six states as well as during a trip to London, the indictment shows. If the judge settles on a smaller amount, it could lessen Anthony Sharpers punishment. Both defendants were released on bond and will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving their sentence upon designation of a federal facility. According to court documents, the couple pursued a plan to embezzle at least $239,000 from . The husband's sentence included him obtaining over $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to cover the theft. What punishment the Sharpers face remains unclear. All rights reserved. Panthers reach consensus on No. Never allow one person to have end-to-end control over cash. A Guide to Reducing Your Health Care Costs, Breaking Barriers: Challenges and opportunities for Latino students, EQUALibrium: An exploration of race and equity in Charlotte, Falling short: Why Democrats keep losing most statewide races, EQUALibrium Live: Conversations on Race & Equity, NPR's Founding Mothers In Conversation With WFAE's Lisa Worf, CMS board keeps piling on tough tasks. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, his three applications relied on fake revenue, payroll and employment numbers, leading to Sharper receiving almost a quarter of million dollars in aid from Bank of America and Wells Fargo. For instance, oftentimes, a sole booster club official is entrusted with the organizations entire financial process, including the deposit of cash into bank accounts, the issuance of checks to vendors and the reconciliation of all transactions in the clubs books. He is a member of the High School Today Publications Committee. WSOC-TV got this statement from the booster club: Following the resignation of both Anthony and Deana Sharper from the Boosters Board last year, irregular transactions were identified and brought to the attention of our bank representative. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine closed airspace to civilian flights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the time of the Sharpers indictments, booster club co-president Kriss Anne Carlstrom said the couple resigned from the clubs board in 2020, and that a series of irregular transactions were discovered and reported to the clubs bank. Where can I find the best prices on grocery staples this week? Anthony Sharper has also been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $236,000 in COVID-19 relief loans. In May, Parker was given to a 5 . According to court records, to cover up the theft and to enrich himself, between March and May 2020, Anthony Sharper submitted three fraudulent applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, including two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, one in the name of the Booster Club and one in the name of his accounting firm, A. US Attorneys said that between 2017 and June 2020, the couple executed a scheme to defraud and embezzle $239,000 from the club by writing checks to themselves for purported reimbursement. This project envisaged the construction of a large new international terminal, similar in specifications to the newly built terminal at Kharkiv International Airport. The couple face decades behind bars, and more than $1 million in fines. Copyright 2021 WBTV. He used $40,000 of the federal loan money on South Mecklenburg High's playing fields, painting the offices of the school's coaches and purchasing sports equipment . This week, filings in the case by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte reveal that they have agreed to plead guilty. Wayne Hedin, of Waxhaw, was arrested for one count of embezzlement by public officer/trustee on Wednesday, following a month-long . Stroud? Sunny but still cool temperatures on tap as we enter May, 'The smell is absolutely horrendous': Small towns want company to clean up roadway animal waste spills, GOP lawmakers want to pay for students' private education. His plea hearing had not been scheduled as of Thursday. As alleged the indictment, to cover up the theft and to enrich himself, between March and May 2020, Anthony Sharper submitted three fraudulent applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, including two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, one in the name of the Booster Club and one in the name of his accounting firm, A. Is the non-profit, parent volunteer organization that supports South Mecklenburg High School athlete Pionerskiy 12 49127 Dnipropetrovs'k Country Ukraine Phone +380 (562) 342 989 Fax +380 (562) 342 990 E-mail fcdnipro@a-teleport.com The husband's sentence included him obtaining over $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to cover the theft. In order to break the fraud triangle and minimize the chances of embezzlement by a school official or club officer, booster organizations should consider implementing some basic guidelines and procedures: Do not allow one person to handle all of a clubs financial processes. Cash controls are of paramount importance in reducing the opportunity to steal; when cash is received, two people should count it and reconciliation paperwork should be signed by each. That's when they discovered that Yannaki had transferred . Instead, he spent the bulk on himself. After receiving the funds, Sharper is accused of using the money to pay for personal expenses and cover up the couple's theft from the booster club. Court documents also show that Anthony Sharper, a certified public accountant, also committed tax fraud by failing to report any embezzled funds on the couple's joint 2018 and 2019 tax returns. They gradually gained influence and control over the booster clubs affairs to the point that by 2019, they were the only authorized signatories on the checking account. The husband's punishment included receiving over $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to cover the theft. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Rotation of duties is another of the most effective strategies for eliminating the opportunity to embezzle. According to court filings, Deana Sharper is pleading straight up to the wire fraud charge, meaning she has not received any inducements from prosecutors in return for her guilty plea. Court documents show that, Anthony Sharper, who is a certified public accountant, also committed tax fraud by failing to report any of the embezzled funds on the couples joint 2018 and 2019 tax returns filed with the IRS. The former president of the Edmond (Oklahoma) Santa Fe High School cheer booster club was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but 90 days being suspended, for her embezzlement of $14,000 from the clubs bank accounts. 2023 Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. 2021 WRAL Voters' Choice Awards Go-To Guide, Cyber security: Protecting your digital life, Why So Many of Us Dont Lose Weight When We Exercise, Buffalo Brothers - 1/2 Price Appetizers 4:30pm-6:00pm Monday - Friday, Click to See All CONTESTS available from WRAL.com, Bio Jobs Hub: Find a great-paying job that changes lives, even yours, Fans and fun at ACC Tournament in Greensboro, Baseball: Heide Trask vs. Whiteville (Apr. Anthony Sharper later double downed, using at least $20,000 in booster club money to pay down the credit card charges he and his wife had been running up, prosecutors say. The couple has been charged with wire fraud, which has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. 2023 Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. NCHSAA board will consider policy allowing high school athletes to profit off NIL, Basketball final four, bat testing, & participation: Here's what the NCHSAA board will discuss this week, Person dies after being trapped by tractor Monday night, Protesters rejecting, supporting Johnston Co. commissioner gather at Monday meeting, Slugging UNC signee Luke Stevenson leads Wake Forest on state championship push, NC Senate Committee debates bill on trans athletes in sports. 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A well-known observation about breaches of trust, the origin of which has never been conclusively established but is often attributed to Mark Twain, is that the saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from an enemy, but rather it always comes from a friend or trusted ally. [5][6], The airport is at an elevation of 481 feet (147m) above mean sea level. The federal government has been pursuing more causes of PPP fraud recently, according to Young. at ACC Tournament, NCHSAA board will consider policy allowing high school athletes to profit off NIL, Person dies after being trapped by tractor Monday night, Southern Lee baseball edges Lee County for Brick City season sweep, Highlights: Woods Charter's Noronha and Cherry light up Triangle Math & Science, Celebrate National BBQ Month in North Carolina by eating something delicious, 50+ Triangle events to check out this May. }; CHARLOTTE, N.C. (From Press Release) The former president of a Charlotte high school Booster Club and his wife were sentenced to prison Monday for stealing more than $239,000 from the organization. Booster club boards should, as one of their key functions, create annual budgets and as a group reconcile those budgets on a quarterly or annual basis to closely monitor the in-flow and out-flow of club funds. He spent two summers as Bikin Mike, filing stories as he pedaled across the Carolinas. The indictment also alleges the couple used Booster Club debit cards to make purchases in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, and London, England. Both defendants were released on bond and will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving their sentence upon designation of a federal facility. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The husband was also sentenced after he tried to cover up the theft with fraudulently . Federal authorities said Anthony Sharper was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Subsequently, the organization was contacted by law enforcement and cooperated fully with their investigation.This has had a detrimental impact on our student-athletes. N.B. In addition to this, foreign airlines have found it difficult to gain access to Dnipro as a result of Dniproavia's protectionist policies along routes to and from the airport. How we got here, what's new and why they face resistance, Islanders extend series with Game 5 win over Canes, Young? A former treasurer of the Sammamish (Washington) Skyline High School booster club returned $31,000 of what an initial forensic audit indicates was more than $100,000 stolen from the organization that supports 80 sports and extracurricular activities at the school, with the investigation ongoing by local prosecutors into the full extent of the crime. The funds were intended for existing businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. A married couple was sent to prison on Monday for stealing over $200,000 in funds from the South Mecklenburg High School Athletic Booster Club in Charlotte. Updated May 20, 2021 12:14 PM A former booster club president and his wife, who served as the concession stand and school store coordinator, at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte,. The couple was indicted on May 19, 2021. One of those was one in the name of the booster club and one was in the name of his accounting firm, A. Carlstrom did not respond to an Observer email Thursday seeking comment. Lets not totally place blame on people until we know whats going on. It had one runway designated 08/26 with a concrete surface measuring 2,841 by 44 metres (9,321ft 144ft). Charlotte leaders propose budget for 2024, Committee recommends certain projects over others for sustainability of Charlotte, At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, Check out the luxury cars $5 million in fraudulent PPP loans paid for, DOJ alleges, He lost $7,000 in a phone scam, and it could have been stopped before it went too far. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old Anthony Sharper and 45-year-old Deana Sharper wrote themselves checks, wired money into their bank account and used the clubs debit and credit cards. 57 likes. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), ALSO READ: Couple accused of stealing $200K from South Meck HS booster club, Charlotte bride killed, husband seriously hurt in wedding night crash, Bikinis, booze & bikes: Myrtle Beach rules to know ahead of summer, Helpless: Video shows shooting from car toward crowded park in Villa Heights, Another homebuyer says Keyo Tiny House didnt do the work, Fisherman pulls massive catfish out of Lake Norman, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. South Meck High boosters stole $200K and used COVID loans to cover tracks, feds say, Feds say Charlotte man took $88K from Wells Fargo vault, then flashed cash on Facebook, NC man pleads guilty to giving fentanyl to his 16-year-old girlfriend, killing her, North Carolinas divorce law is clearly an outlier. In 2016, Jamie Kaye Parker was arrested after being accused of embezzling thousands of dollars between January 2015 through April 2016 from the Bridge Creek Takedown Booster Club while serving as treasurer. Ensure that all federal, state and local legal mandates regarding the operation of booster clubs are being followed, including IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit registration requirements, IRS 501(c)(3) tax return filing mandates, state statutes governing nonprofit incorporation and record-keeping rules, state laws specifically regulating booster clubs and parent-teacher organizations, state agency rules addressing sales and use tax permits, state board of education or state activity association requirements for booster clubs, and school district governance mandates for clubs. (WATCH BELOW: Messed up: Couple accused of strealing $200K from South Meck HS booster club), Messed up: Couple accused of stealing $200K from South Meck HS booster club. } $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate is a commonly recommended standard for booster clubs. The former president of the South Mecklenburg High School booster club and his wife were sentenced to prison after investigators said they stole more than $230,000 from the booster. var field59 = field59 || {}; Lee Green is an attorney and a professor at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, where he teaches courses in sports law, business law and constitutional law. One of the applications was in the name of the booster club and the other was in the name of his accounting firm, A. Updated: Nov 19, 2020 / 06:33 AM EST. What we know. Anthony Sharper previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud, making a false statement to a financial institution, engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, and tax fraud. Between 2017 and June 2020, the couple executed a scheme to defraud at least $239,000 from the South Meck booster club by writing . CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A husband and wife pair was sentenced to prison Monday for stealing more than $239,000 from a Charlotte high school booster club, according to U.S. Distric Mecklenburg jailer was fired after an altercation with an inmate. However, its most useful application may be that its three components also can serve as the foundation for organizations of all types, including employers, nonprofits, schools and booster clubs, to develop strategies designed to eliminate or minimize the elements that provide the triangle with its structure and strength to essentially break the triangle thereby reducing the likelihood of fraudulent activity such as embezzlement being perpetrated in the first place. He and his wife Deana have been also been charged with fraudulently obtaining $236,000 to cover up their theft. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) -The president of a Charlotte high school Booster Club and his wife were indicted on charges of stealing more than $200,000 from the booster club. Almost every incident of embezzlement leads to both the criminal prosecution of the perpetrator and a civil lawsuit to recover the misappropriated funds. As a result of the fraudulent applications, Anthony Sharper obtained more than $236,000 in COVID-19 relief funds intended for existing businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. It is located 15 kilometres (9mi; 8nmi) southeast from the city center. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A married couple was sent to prison on Monday for stealing over $200,000 in funds from the South Mecklenburg High School Athletic Booster Club in Charlotte. Divide duties between booster club members: separate the responsibility of counting monies from the deposit of those funds into the bank; separate the task of cutting checks to pay vendors from the reconciliation of the booster clubs checkbook; and separate the job of keeping the clubs books from conducting internal audits of those books. Anthony Sharper and his wife, Deana Sharper, are accused of scheming to defraud and embezzle at least $200,000 from the South Mecklenburg High Schol athletic booster club by writing checks to themselves for purported reimbursement, as well as wiring funds directly to their personal bank account and using the club's debit cards and credit card to pay for personal expenses. According to filed court documents, between 2017 and June 2020, Anthony Sharper and Deana Sharper executed a scheme to defraud and embezzle at least $239,000 from South Meck high school Athletic Booster Club by writing checks to themselves for purported reimbursement, wiring funds directly to their personal bank account, and using the Booster Clubs debit cards and credit card to pay for personal expenditures. The club, she said, cooperated fully with the resulting investigation, which included the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. postal authorities. She has led newsrooms at KUNC in Greely, CO, Rhode Island Public Radio in Providence, RI and WHQR in Wilmington, NC. According to the indictment, all three applications contained false information, including fake revenues and fake payroll and employment data. Drug dog leads police to major bust and arrest of Charlotte man, Driver dies while being dragged hundreds of feet under truck trailer, SC coroner says, Rock Hill woman sentenced in I-77 DUI crash that killed 4, including her daughter. Purchase fidelity bond insurance with adequate coverage limits to protect against losses from embezzlement. Deana Sharper also of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $239,742.80. Investigators claim that between March and May 2020, Anthony Sharper submitted three fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief funds, including two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. "Russian military again strikes Dnipro airport", "Ukraine Claims Russia Has "Completely Destroyed" Dnipro Airport: Dnipro has been targeted by Russian forces since the Russian invasion but has so far been spared major destruction", The new runway at Dnipro Airport in 2021 will require 1.6 billion, " ", " ", "Ukraine airspace closed to civilian flights", "Dnipro International Airport, Statistics", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dnipro_International_Airport&oldid=1146943974, Buildings and structures destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Articles with Ukrainian-language sources (uk), Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles containing Ukrainian-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 March 2023, at 22:22. Both Sharper and his wife are charged with wire fraud which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to allegations contained in the eight-count indictment, between 2017 and June 2020, Anthony Sharper, 39, and Deana Sharper, 45, both of Charlotte, executed a scheme to defraud and embezzle at least $200,000 from a Charlotte-area high school Athletic Booster Club by writing checks to themselves for purported reimbursement, wiring funds directly to their personal bank account, and using the Booster Clubs debit cards and credit card to pay for personal expenditures. As those philanthropic efforts begin, school administrators and booster club officials need to develop and implement proactive strategies to prevent what has become a problem of increasing dimension nationwide: the misappropriation of club funds by the very individuals entrusted with the moral and fiduciary duties of ensuring that all monies raised are used exclusively to support the education-oriented mission of those organizations. The indictment alleges the couple spent tens of thousands of dollars on car payments, Hornets tickets, fine dining, travel, personal shopping in big-box retailers and clothing stores, and made $20,000 in cash and ATM withdrawals. He was also ordered to pay out more than$310,000. [7], On 24 February 2022, Ukraine closed airspace to civilian flights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Relevance is automatically assessed so some headlines not qualifying as Dnipro news might appear - please feel free to contact us regarding any . CHARLOTTE On Tuesday, a man accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from a Charlotte high schools booster club pleaded not guilty to the charges. Subsequently, the organization was contacted by law enforcement and cooperated fully with their investigation. According to investigators, he tried to cover up the theft by using COVID-19 relief loans that he fraudulently obtained. A Charlotte couple is accused of taking $200,000 from the South Meck Booster Club, and fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds to cover their tracks Anthony Sharper, a certified public accountant, attempted to hide the thefts with $236,000 in COVID-19 relief loans, which he received for the club and his accounting firm using fraudulent applications, prosecutors claim. According to the indictment, the couple embezzled from the booster club between 2017 and June 2020. The documents state that between March and May 2020, he submitted three fraudulent applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, including two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. 2023 Cox Media Group. Between 2017 and June 2020, Anthony Sharper and Deana Sharper planned a scheme to defraud and embezzle at least $239,000 from the high school's booster club by writing checks to themselves, wiring funds directly to their bank account and using the booster club's debit cards and credit cards to pay for personal expenditures. The Acting U.S. Attorney General said 39-year-old Anthony Sharper has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $236,000 in COVID-19 relief fund to cover up the theft. Anthony served as the clubs interim president and treasurer, and Deana ran the concession stand and school store. [11], Media related to Dnipropetrovsk International Airport at Wikimedia Commons. In a response to the allegations, the South Meck Sports Boosters release this statement to WCNC Charlotte: Following the resignation of both Anthony and Deana Sharper from the Booster's Board last year, irregular transactions were identified and brought to the attention of our bank representative. Deana Sharper will go first. A Charlotte couple was sentenced Monday after they stole $239,000 from a high school's booster club. After receiving the money, investigators said Anthony Sharper used the funds to pay for personal expenditures and to cover up the couples theft of the booster clubs funds. Sharper CPA, PLLC, and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of his CPA firm. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Deana Sharpers attorney, Robert Corbett III of Charlotte, did not respond to an Observer email Thursday seeking comment. Tuesday morning, shes scheduled to plead to one count of wire fraud scheme to defraud the booster club the lone charge on her indictment. Multiple news outlets report the club was at South Mecklenburg High. He was also ordered to pay out more than$310,000. The criminal indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture, which gives notice that the defendants must forfeit to the United States all of the property, currency and monetary instruments involved in the offenses charged in the indictment. Typical monetary pressures asserted by embezzlers as the reason for their wrongdoing include excessive debt, financial difficulties paying personal bills, excessive credit card obligations resulting from living beyond their means, monetary challenges while going through a divorce or a family financial crisis, or simple greed for an enhanced lifestyle. His wife, Deana Sharper, 47, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $239,000. CHARLOTTE A Charlotte couple was sentenced Monday after they stole $239,000 from a high school's booster club. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg. [4] On 10 April 2022 a Russian attack completely destroyed the airport and the infrastructure nearby. April 20, 2020. The former president of the Sand Creek (Michigan) High School music program booster club entered a plea deal in exchange for reduced charges related to his theft of $13,000 from the club and was sentenced to 30 days in jail instead of the five-year prison term he might have received. A former treasurer of the Fullerton (California) Rangers Soccer League, a youth sports nonprofit, was arrested for allegedly embezzling what a forensic audit revealed to be more than $174,000 and was charged with grand theft, money laundering, forgery of official records and income tax evasion. Deana Sharper was ordered to serve 21 months in prison with two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $239,742. Detectives said all three applications contained false information, including fake revenues and false payroll and employment data. In fact, according to the indictment, the actual amount was $522.07. For this reason, South Meck Sports Boosters is grateful for the thorough investigation completed by law enforcement., (WATCH: Florida man got $1.9M in PPP money, used it to buy new Mercedes, prosecutors say), Florida man got $1.9M in PPP money, used it to buy new Mercedes, prosecutors say (NCD). NewsNow aims to be the world's most accurate and comprehensive Dnipro news aggregator, bringing you the latest headlines automatically and continuously 24/7. He's also charged with two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property and two counts of filing a false tax return. Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights amid Russian military action. See, List of the busiest airports in the former USSR. Anthony Sharper, who is a certified public accountant, then tried to cover up the theft by using COVID-19 relief loans that he fraudulently obtained, according to investigators. . All rights reserved. [5], The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter services to and from Dnipro International Airport:[10], As of 24 February 2022, all passenger flights have been suspended indefinitely.

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