Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, has found himself in hot water after being accused of misusing campaign funds to indulge in his passion for high-value baseball cards. The allegations came to light through a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, revealing a series of questionable transactions totaling over $41,000.
Among the notable purchases that caught the attention of investigators were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card. Surprisingly, these acquisitions were masked as mundane items like “signs” and “banner” on Shoulders’ campaign finance reports, attempting to conceal his lavish spending on collectibles. However, it was the discovery of additional transactions, including nearly $500 spent on Pokémon cards, also disguised as “signs” at a local store that raised suspicion and prompted further scrutiny into Shoulders’ financial activities.
The investigation was set in motion when Shoulders himself reached out to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, reporting fraudulent activities on his campaign account. He claimed to have lost his debit card in April and insisted he was not responsible for the charges made between May and August. Nevertheless, a deeper dive into the records painted a different picture, revealing inconsistencies that pointed towards Shoulders as the sole authorized user of the account and indicating that purchases continued post his report of the lost card.
Email correspondence uncovered a trail of eBay orders for rare baseball cards, including prized possessions like 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all shipped to Shoulders’ residence. These transactions were allegedly funded through his campaign account, blurring the lines between personal indulgence and misuse of political funds.
In a bold move, Shoulders attempted to recoup over $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud department by claiming reimbursement for the purportedly fraudulent charges. However, his request was swiftly denied, shedding light on the questionable nature of his financial dealings. Shortly after this failed attempt, Shoulders tendered his resignation as county commissioner, bidding adieu with a statement that expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
Subsequently, Shoulders was taken into custody and slapped with charges ranging from attempted fraud to filing a false report. After posting a $500 bond, he awaited his day in court to address the allegations outlined in the incriminating affidavit. Furthermore, discrepancies involving checks designated as charitable contributions, yet diverted into a business account linked to Shoulders, further tarnished his reputation and raised eyebrows regarding the mismanagement of funds in his custody.