COON RAPIDS, Minn. - Preparing for a high school hockey season is always a hectic process: Late summer workouts, captains practice, signups, physicals and more.
There's another challenge being thrown at the athletes, parents and boosters from the Coon Rapids High School boys program this year, one that has nothing to do with the on-ice product, but everything to do with paying for it. The team is going pedal to the metal in a fundraising drive to replace thousands of dollars that disappeared in an alleged embezzlement scheme.
Coon Rapids Police confirm they brought in and questioned an Anoka woman in connection with the missing money, and are currently preparing a case that could lead to embezzlement charges. The police report details how an employee of Wells Fargo alerted Cardinal Hockey Red Line Club President Brian Knapp that there were suspicious or fraudulent charges that seemed out of the ordinary for the booster club's account history. Knapp says the suspect has confessed but Coon Rapids Police have not confirmed.
Knapp reviewed records for June of 2018 and found a number of unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals. He took his concerns to Coon Rapids Police, along with transaction records from December of 2016 through June of 2018. Knapp told detectives he had looked briefly through the statements and noticed numerous unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals dating all the way back to late 2016. He told police the suspect, who is the treasurer for the Cardinal's Red Line Club, is the only person with access to the club's financial information and accounts.
Investigating officer Josh Pirkola says statements for May and June of 2018 alone show 62 unauthorized transactions for a total nearing $5,700.
Knapp tells KARE 11 the Red Line Club pays the salaries of three assistant coaches, for extra ice like Captain's Practice, for a scrimmage fest in Duluth that involves ice, buses, lodging and food, and other expenses. All told, Knapp figures it takes $25,000 to pay for a season of hockey.
The first audit suggests somewhere in the neighborhood of $36,000 was embezzled from the organization, Knapp says. He readily admits the suspect should have been vetted more before she was handed the keys to Red Line Club finances, but says most on the board had known her for years.
"There's a large amount of trust involved, you trust they're in it for the same reasons you are, to help the kids have a good year," he said.
When the unauthorized expenses were discovered, the suspect was taken off the account and removed from her position during an emergency meeting.
When asked what the money was spent on, Knapp said gas stations, restaurants, makeup and assorted other things.
"It quite obviously wasn't hockey expenses," he chuckled wearily.
There was no indication the activity was linked to gambling, or drug and alcohol addiction.
Charges against the suspect are pending while the investigation continues. In the meantime, Cardinal Red Line Club officials have an upcoming season they have to pay for, so an aggressive fundraising schedule has been set. Here's are the events planned so far:
- Sept. 9: Chanticlear Patio Party - Vikings game tent party 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sept. 22: Mattress Sale at Coon Rapids High School
- Sept. 29: CR Billiards Spaghetti Dinner 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a silent auction
- Oct. 13: HockeyFest Muddy Cow - Bags tournament on Saturday
- Oct. 29: Chipotle Night
Coach Steve Moe has also set up a Facebook fundraiser to replace a portion of the stolen money.
For more information on the upcoming Cardinal Hockey Red Line Club fundraising events, just go to: www.coonrapidshockey.com.