Mark Green, the ex-superintendent of Columbia City Parks and Recreation, found himself in hot water after embezzling a staggering amount of over $240,000 from the city’s funds. This scandalous discovery led to Green’s recent court sentencing, where he received a three-year sentence for his illicit actions.
The whole fiasco began when the vigilant eye of Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel detected peculiar financial transactions in March 2023. Suspecting foul play, an investigation was promptly launched, spearheaded by various agencies including the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts. This joint effort ultimately uncovered Green’s misdeeds and resulted in his prompt termination from his prestigious position.
Court records uncovered the startling truth behind Green’s misappropriation of funds. He shamelessly spent a colossal sum of approximately $246,000 on baseball cards from the store ‘Sport Spot’ using the city’s credit card. To make matters worse, Green then shamelessly peddled some of these ill-gotten cards on eBay for personal gain. Eventually, he came clean about his nefarious activities, admitting to using city funds without authorization for his personal indulgences.
Initially facing four charges of corrupt business influence, four counts of theft, and one count of official misconduct, Green opted for a plea agreement in April 2024. By pleading guilty to a single theft charge, all other accusations against him were dropped. As part of the agreement, Green agreed to reimburse a total of $275,628 to cover the damages caused by his actions. This sum included a hefty payment of $100,000 to a bond company, with the remaining $175,628 earmarked to be returned to the city’s coffers.
With the gavel finally hitting the bench on Monday, Green’s sentence was set in stone. He was directed to serve the initial year of his three-year term, which could potentially be behind bars or on work release, followed by two years under probation. The repercussions of Green’s deceitful conduct have shed light on glaring shortcomings within the financial management of Columbia City’s Parks and Recreation Department, prompting urgent calls for more stringent oversight and controls to prevent such incidents from recurring.
