Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, found himself in hot water after being accused of misusing campaign funds to splurge on pricey baseball cards. The allegations surfaced with a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, shedding light on Shoulders’ extravagant purchases totaling over $41,000 on eBay.
Among the eye-catching acquisitions were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, deceptively recorded as “signs” and “banner” on his campaign finance reports. While most expenses seemed legitimate, the inclusion of baseball cards and around $500 worth of Pokémon cards, camouflaged as “signs” from a local store, sparked suspicion among investigators.
The controversy unfolded when Shoulders himself reached out to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, citing fraudulent activities on his campaign account. He alleged losing his debit card in April and disclaimed knowledge of the disputed charges from May to August. Yet, a deeper probe uncovered contradicting evidence, indicating Shoulders as the sole authorized user of the account with post-loss transactions.
Exposed email correspondence laid bare multiple eBay orders for rare baseball cards, including prized possessions like 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all destined for Shoulders’ residence. Shockingly, these transactions were traced back to his campaign coffers, raising ethical red flags.
Financial records disclosed Shoulders’ unsuccessful endeavor to claim reimbursement exceeding $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud department for the purported unauthorized charges. His resignation as commissioner shortly after this failed bid, professing, “It has truly been an honor to serve our great county as a public servant,” added a touch of drama to the unfolding narrative.
Following the legal storm, Shoulders faced arrest on charges ranging from attempted fraud to filing a false report. While released on a $500 bond, he awaited an impending court appearance, grappling with the ramifications of his alleged misconduct. Moreover, the investigative affidavit unearthed additional irregularities, spotlighting checks designated as charitable contributions but redirected to a business account under Shoulders’ jurisdiction.
