Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, found himself in a whirlwind of controversy after allegations surfaced of him misusing campaign funds for rather unconventional purchases – high-value baseball cards. The accusations stem from an incident where Shoulders reportedly spent a staggering $41,000 on eBay using a debit card linked to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account. These purchases were allegedly disguised on his campaign finance reports, raising eyebrows among investigators.
Among the notable acquisitions were a rookie card of baseball legend Johnny Bench valued at $235 and a Satchel Paige card worth $570, peculiarly listed as “signs” and “banner” on official campaign documents. While the majority of reported expenditures seemed legitimate, it was the baseball card entries and additional transactions for nearly $500 in Pokémon cards, labeled as “signs” at a local store, that drew suspicion and prompted further inquiry.
The allegations came to light when Shoulders himself contacted the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, reporting fraudulent activities on his campaign account. He claimed to have misplaced his debit card around April and professed ignorance regarding the disputed charges between May and August. However, investigations uncovered conflicting evidence, such as records indicating he was the sole authorized user of the account and that purchases persisted after he reported the card as lost.
Further scrutiny exposed email confirmations of multiple eBay orders for rare baseball cards, including prized possessions like 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards, and a 1966 Willie Mays card – all conveniently shipped to Shoulders’ residence. It was revealed that Shoulders used his campaign account for these transactions, linking the misused funds directly to his political activities.
Complicating matters, financial records disclosed Shoulders’ failed attempt to seek over $26,000 reimbursement from Old National Bank’s fraud department for the declared fraudulent charges. His request was promptly denied by the bank. Interestingly, just a month following this unsuccessful endeavor, Shoulders tendered his resignation as commissioner, bidding farewell with the poignant words, “It has truly been an honor to serve our great county as a public servant.”
Subsequently, Shoulders was arrested and slapped with charges including attempted fraud and filing a false report. Despite being released on a $500 bond, he awaited an impending initial court appearance. The unfolding events also unraveled discrepancies involving checks ostensibly designated as charitable donations, which were allegedly redirected into a business account controlled by Shoulders, further muddying the waters of this unfolding scandal.
The saga involving Ben Shoulders serves as a glaring reminder of the importance of transparency and ethics in the realm of politics, shedding light on the consequences of mishandling public funds and the significant repercussions one may face when veering off the path of integrity.
