Former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, Ben Shoulders, is entrenched in controversy after being accused of misusing campaign funds to splurge on high-value baseball cards. An astonishing revelation emerged in a probable cause affidavit filed at the Vanderburgh Circuit Court, exposing Shoulders’ purported expenditure of over $41,000 on eBay. This spending spree was allegedly carried out using a debit card associated with his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account, with purchases intentionally misclassified on campaign finance reports.
Highlighted in the list of purchases were eye-catching items such as a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card. However, what raised suspicion was the deceptive labeling of these acquisitions as “signs” and “banner” on official campaign documents. Among the legitimate expenses listed on the reports, the conspicuous entries of baseball cards and approximately $500 worth of Pokémon cards acquired from a local store under the guise of “signs” triggered alarm bells among investigators.
The investigation unfurled following Shoulders’ report to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, alleging fraudulent activities on his campaign account. According to his claims, the misuse of his debit card commenced subsequent to him misplacing it around April, extending up to August with disputed charges appearing on the statement. However, once the authorities delved deeper, conflicting evidence surfaced, pointing towards Shoulders as the sole authorized user of the account. Furthermore, records unveiled continuous purchases even after he reported the card missing, casting doubt on his proclaimed innocence.
Examination of email correspondences unearthed a string of eBay transactions for acquiring rare baseball cards, including coveted editions like the 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards, alongside a 1966 Willie Mays card – all routed to Shoulders’ residence using funds from his campaign account.
In a futile attempt to seek recourse, Shoulders endeavored to recoup over $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud division under the premise of fraudulent charges. Regrettably for him, this reimbursement plea was promptly declined. Not long after this failed endeavor, Shoulders relinquished his position as commissioner, bidding adieu with a statement acknowledging the privilege of serving the county.
Subsequently, Shoulders found himself apprehended and slapped with charges encompassing attempted fraud and filing a false report. Upon posting a $500 bond, he awaited an impending court appearance. The affidavit further brought to light discrepancies concerning checks ostensibly marked for charitable contributions, which intriguingly found their way into a business account under Shoulders’ control.
As the legal proceedings unfurl, the implications of Shoulders’ alleged misconduct reverberate, underscoring the importance of upholding transparency and integrity in the realm of campaign finance. The saga surrounding the misuse of campaign funds for personal gratification serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the corrosive repercussions of circumventing ethical boundaries for personal gain.
