Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, has found himself in hot water over allegations of misappropriating campaign funds for a rather unconventional purchase – high-value baseball cards. The scandal unfolded when a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court revealed that Shoulders had reportedly splurged over $41,000 on eBay using a debit card linked to his campaign account, dubiously labeling these transactions in his campaign finance reports.
Among the eyebrow-raising acquisitions were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, sneakily camouflaged as “signs” and “banner” expenses in the official paperwork. While most of the expenditures seemed above board, it was the conspicuous inclusion of baseball card purchases and an additional outlay of almost $500 on Pokémon cards, disguised as “signs” from a local store, that caught the attention of investigators.
The saga began when Shoulders himself approached the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, citing fraudulent activities on his campaign account. He asserted that his debit card had gone missing around April and professed ignorance about the unauthorized charges made between May and August. However, a deeper probe unearthed conflicting evidence, including records indicating that Shoulders was the sole authorized user of the account and that the purchases persisted post his card being reported lost.
Email correspondence revealed a string of eBay orders for rare baseball cards, including prized possessions like 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all conveniently delivered to Shoulders’ residence. The transactions for these collectibles were purportedly funded through his campaign account, further intensifying the scrutiny on his financial dealings.
To compound matters, Shoulders attempted to recoup over $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud department, claiming reimbursement for the allegedly fraudulent charges. Alas, his bid was summarily rejected. Curiously, barely a month subsequent to this failed reimbursement attempt, Shoulders tendered his resignation as commissioner, bidding adieu with the sentiment, “It has truly been an honor to serve our great county as a public servant.”
Following his resignation, Shoulders found himself on the wrong side of the law, arrested and slapped with charges encompassing attempted fraud and falsifying a report. A meager $500 bond secured his temporary release as he awaited an impending court appearance. Moreover, the probing affidavit unraveled more discrepancies, exposing checks meant as charitable contributions that curiously landed in a business account supervised by Shoulders.
This narrative paints a stark picture of a once esteemed public figure now ensnared in a scandal involving the misuse of campaign funds for the indulgence of a peculiar passion for baseball card collecting. As the legal proceedings unfurl, the public watches on, bemused by the extravagant missteps of a former commissioner.
