Ben Shoulders, a former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, is currently weathering a storm of accusations surrounding the misuse of campaign funds for a rather unusual shopping spree. The allegations, detailed in a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, paint a rather perplexing picture of Shoulders’ purchase history, notably featuring high-value baseball cards.
The document unveiled that Shoulders purportedly splurged over $41,000 on eBay using a debit card linked to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account while mislabeling these acquisitions on his campaign finance reports. Among the most attention-grabbing entries were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, deceptively listed as “signs” and “banner” on official campaign documents. Whilst most of the reported expenses seemed legitimate, the erratic baseball card additions and other expenditures exceeding $500 on Pokémon cards, erroneously marked as “signs” from a local store, clearly raised suspicions among investigators.
The unraveling of this financial fiasco commenced 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 around April and disavowed any knowledge of the contentious charges between May and August. However, a deeper probe unearthed contradictory evidence, including records indicating Shoulders as the sole authorized user of the account, with transactions persisting post his card loss report.
Subsequent scrutiny of email records laid bare a trail of multiple eBay orders confirming the acquisition of rare baseball cards, including 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all conveniently dispatched to Shoulders’ residential address. The misuse of campaign funds for these personal purchases came as a shocking revelation, leaving investigators baffled at the audacity displayed.
Further complicating matters, financial logs revealed Shoulders’ failed attempt to seek over $26,000 in reimbursement from Old National Bank’s fraud department for the alleged illicit charges, a plea that was summarily denied. Shortly after this failed bid, Shoulders opted to step down from his role as commissioner, citing his tenure as an “honor to serve our great county as a public servant.”
Following the damning revelations, Shoulders found himself on the wrong side of the law, arrested and slapped with charges, including attempted fraud and filing a false report. Released on a bond totaling $500, he anxiously awaited the upcoming court appearance to address the accusations launched against him. Moreover, the affidavit shed light on additional discrepancies involving checks passed off as charitable contributions, only to be stealthily redirected into a business account under Shoulders’ jurisdiction, adding further layers to the ongoing saga.
The unraveling saga of Ben Shoulders and his unorthodox utilization of campaign funds shines a harsh spotlight on the responsibilities and integrity expected from public officials. It stands as a stark reminder of the consequences that befall those who choose to stray from the path of transparency and accountability, reinforcing the age-old adage that the long arms of justice eventually catch up to those who dare to tip-toe over the line.
