Soccer group is repaid
some embezzled funds

Some of the money allegedly embezzled from a youth soccer organization by its former treasurer was paid back the day after the suspect confessed to the crime.

American Youth Soccer Organization state director Mark Stewart said the suspect's father gave the organization a cashier's check for $35,000 on April 21. That was one day after police arrested his 37-year-old daughter for first-degree theft and released her pending further investigation.

Police said AYSO officials submitted records showing the woman embezzled more than $34,000 from AYSO's Kaneohe region's account between June 1, 2003, and Aug. 9, 2004, by writing checks to herself and depositing them into her own account.

Stewart said an audit is ongoing, and there is more money that has not been accounted for. He said even if all the money is paid back, the former treasurer will not be let off the hook.

"The complaint will not be withdrawn," Stewart said.

The money, collected from registration fees, pays for the kids' soccer uniforms, equipment, insurance and match officials.

AYSO officials began looking into the organization's Kaneohe region finances after vendors began complaining they were not being paid, Stewart said. A check of the region's account showed it was $3,000 in the hole.

Police said the former treasurer walked into the Honolulu Police Department's Kaneohe Station April 20 for an interview with detectives and confessed to embezzling the money. Police said they are waiting for more bank records before forwarding the case to the city prosecutor's office.