Ben Shoulders, a once-respected figure in Vanderburgh County politics, now finds himself entangled in a web of scandal and controversy. The former County Commissioner is at the center of a storm of allegations revolving around the alleged misuse of campaign funds for his personal indulgence in expensive baseball cards. The intricate details of this unfolding saga paint a picture of deception and financial impropriety that has shocked the local community and tarnished Shoulders’ once-sterling reputation.
The saga began with a startling revelation contained in a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court. The document detailed how Shoulders purportedly spent a staggering sum exceeding $41,000 on eBay, utilizing a debit card linked to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account. What made these transactions particularly egregious was the manner in which they were mislabeled on his campaign finance reports, disguising the true nature of the purchases.
Among the high-priced acquisitions that raised eyebrows were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card. These items, instead of being accurately recorded as baseball cards, were falsely listed as generic items like “signs” and “banner” on official campaign documents. While the majority of Shoulders’ reported expenses seemed legitimate, it was the anomalous entries related to baseball cards, as well as additional expenditures on almost $500 worth of Pokémon cards designated as “signs” at a local store, that set off alarm bells for investigators.
The investigation gained momentum when Shoulders himself reached out to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, alleging fraudulent activity on his campaign account. Claiming that his debit card had gone missing around April, he professed ignorance regarding the identity of the individual responsible for the disputed charges spanning from May to August. However, a meticulous scrutiny of the evidence uncovered contradictions in Shoulders’ narrative, including records indicating that he was the sole authorized user of the account and that purchases continued unabated even after he reported the card as lost.
Further complicating matters were email communications that offered a damning glimpse into Shoulders’ complicity in the alleged misdeeds. Correspondence revealed confirmations of multiple eBay orders for rare baseball cards, such as coveted 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a prized 1966 Willie Mays card, all of which were shipped directly to Shoulders’ residence. It was evident that the transactions for these luxury items were facilitated using funds from his campaign account, a clear breach of ethical and legal boundaries.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the saga was Shoulders’ audacious attempt to seek reimbursement exceeding $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud department for the purportedly fraudulent charges. Regrettably for him, this gambit proved unsuccessful as his request was promptly rebuffed. Strangely enough, just a month subsequent to this failed ploy, Shoulders tendered his resignation as commissioner, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the county in a public capacity.
The fallout from these revelations was swift and severe. Shoulders found himself in the unenviable position of being arrested and slapped with a litany of charges, including attempted fraud and filing a false report. Following his release on a $500 bond, he braced himself for the forthcoming legal proceedings, expecting an initial court appearance that would determine his fate. Moreover, the affidavit divulged additional discrepancies related to checks ostensibly earmarked for charitable contributions, which had instead been diverted and deposited into a business account under Shoulders’ control.
The burgeoning scandal surrounding Ben Shoulders serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of succumbing to the allure of financial malfeasance and ethical lapses. Once a figure of authority and trust, Shoulders now faces the ignominy of public disgrace and legal consequences for his alleged transgressions. The reverberations of this sordid affair are sure to ripple through the political landscape of Vanderburgh County, leaving a stain that may take years to fade.