Mark Green, the ex-superintendent of Columbia City Parks and Recreation, found himself on the wrong side of the legal system after pilfering over $240,000 from the city coffers. Green, with a penchant for baseball cards, was slapped with a three-year sentence for his extravagant spending spree that involved acquiring a hefty collection of sports memorabilia.
The incident came to light when Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel initiated an investigation in March 2023 following suspicious financial transactions. The collaborative effort of the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts zeroed in on Green’s misdeeds, leading to his prompt dismissal from his pivotal role.
Court documents revealed a damning trail of deceit, showing that Green frivolously splurged around $246,000 on baseball cards, using the city’s credit card to fuel his clandestine hobby. In a bid to cover his tracks, Green resorted to selling some of the cards on eBay, a move that ultimately sealed his fate as an embezzler of public funds.
Initially facing a cascade of charges including corrupt business influence, theft, and official misconduct, Green entered a guilty plea in April 2024 for a single count of theft in exchange for a more lenient sentence. This strategic move saw the other charges evaporate into thin air, although it came with the hefty price tag of a $275,628 restitution order, to be paid out to a bond company and the city.
The long arm of the law reached its verdict on Monday, as Green was handed down a stern sentence to spend the first year of his three-year term in either incarceration or on work release, with the subsequent two years under probationary supervision. The case has shone a harsh light on the lax financial controls within Columbia City’s Parks and Recreation Department, provoking a compelling call for enhanced oversight mechanisms to avert future financial infractions.