Ben Shoulders, a familiar name within Vanderburgh County as a former Commissioner, now finds himself in the center of a scandal involving the misuse of campaign funds. The allegations against Shoulders are no light matter, with claims indicating that he channeled over $41,000 from his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account towards the acquisition of high-value baseball cards, rather than their intended political use.
The alarming discovery was made through a probable cause affidavit submitted at the Vanderburgh Circuit Court. It exposed Shoulders’ supposed spending spree on eBay, where transactions for several extraordinary baseball cards were allegedly made. Among the highlighted purchases were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, falsely labeled as generic campaign supplies like “signs” and “banners” on official financial reports.
Although the majority of the campaign expenses seemed legitimate at first glance, the inconspicuous baseball card acquisitions and additional charges amounting to approximately $500 for Pokémon cards, deceptively recorded as “signs” from a local store, caught the attention of investigators. These discrepancies paved the way for a deeper scrutiny into Shoulders’ financial activities.
The plot thickened when Shoulders himself raised a red flag by reporting purported fraudulent activities on his campaign account to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023. Claiming to have misplaced his debit card around April and expressing ignorance about the disputed charges spanning from May to August, Shoulders attempted to distance himself from the illicit transactions. However, meticulous examination of the evidence painted a different narrative. It was revealed that Shoulders was the sole authorized user of the account, and the suspicious purchases persisted even after he reported his card as lost.
Further investigation unearthed damning email correspondences confirming multiple eBay orders for coveted baseball cards, such as 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all conveniently shipped to Shoulders’ residence using his campaign account for payment.
The saga took an intriguing turn when it was disclosed that Shoulders endeavored to reclaim over $26,000 from Old National Bank, citing fraudulent charges as the reason for reimbursement. However, his plea was promptly denied. Curiously, a mere month subsequent to this failed attempt at financial redemption, Shoulders tendered his resignation as commissioner, bidding farewell with a statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
Subsequently, Shoulders was apprehended and charged with several serious offenses, including attempted fraud and filing a false report. Following his release on a $500 bond, he awaited an impending court appearance as the legal ramifications of his alleged actions continued to unfold. Amidst the chaos, additional vexing irregularities were brought to light, implicating Shoulders in the deceptive diversion of funds marked as charitable contributions, redirected instead to a business account under his sole control.
The unfolding scandal surrounding Shoulders serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and ethical conduct in the realm of public service, underscoring the repercussions that can ensue when entrusted funds are misappropriated for personal gain. The fallout from this controversy is sure to resonate throughout Vanderburgh County, leaving a lasting mark on the community and those who once placed their faith in Ben Shoulders.
