Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, finds himself in hot water over allegations of misusing campaign funds to indulge in a rather unusual shopping spree – high-value baseball cards. The scenario unfolded with a probable cause affidavit submitted in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, revealing that Shoulders purportedly splurged a hefty sum exceeding $41,000 on eBay transactions conducted through a debit card linked to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account, slyly concealing these purchases within his campaign finance reports.
In a bizarre twist, transactions for a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card disguised as innocuous “signs” and “banner” on official campaign documents caught the keen eye of investigators. While the majority of listed expenses appeared mundane, the inclusion of these baseball card acquisitions and an additional expenditure amounting to nearly $500 on Pokémon cards, dubiously classified as “signs” bought from a local store, raised suspicions and set off alarm bells for authorities.
The situation came to a head when Shoulders himself raised the alarm, reaching out to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, citing fraudulent activities within his campaign account. His claim revolved around the alleged loss of his debit card in April, disavowing knowledge of the contentious charges transacted between May and August. However, a deeper probe into the matter painted a conflicting picture, unearthing evidence pointing towards Shoulders being the sole authorized user of the said account, with purchases continuing unabated post his reported card loss.
Further scrutiny into email correspondences laid bare a trail of eBay orders confirming Shoulders’ acquisition of rare baseball cards, notably including prized possessions like 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all conveniently shipped to his residence, funded by his campaign account.
Adding fuel to the fire, records also revealed an audacious attempt by Shoulders to claim reimbursement exceeding $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud department under the guise of contesting these supposedly fraudulent charges, a claim that ultimately hit a dead end with denial. In a surprising turn of events, Shoulders tendered his resignation as commissioner merely a month post this failed bid, bidding adieu with a reflective note stating, “It has truly been an honor to serve our great county as a public servant.”
Consequently, Shoulders found himself in cuffs, slapped with charges encompassing attempted fraud and falsification of reports, subsequently let out on a $500 bond as he awaited his initial court appearance. The unfolding affidavit also brought to light discrepancies concerning checks meant as charitable contributions, mysteriously rerouted into a business account ostensibly under Shoulders’ control, painting a picture of deceit and malfeasance.