Stealing more than bases.
A Pennsylvania cop’s wife is accused of pocketing nearly $150,000 from a youth sports program – and then blowing the cash on concerts and lavish shopping sprees – while serving as the league’s treasurer, according to reports.
Carla O’Brien, 48, was booked Thursday for stealing $147,400 from the Fox Chapel Area Baseball Softball Association for personal use while she oversaw the club’s finances over a five-year period between 2019 and 2024, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, outlets reported.
The Indiana Township resident is married to a Pittsburgh police lieutenant, sources told WPXI.
“Our organization has been, and will continue to, cooperate with law enforcement related to this matter,” Fox Chapel Area Baseball Softball Association, which handles about 750 kids across nearly three dozen teams, told the Bridgeville Signal Item.
“We respect the legal process and trust authorities to handle the matter appropriately. As this process is ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments and will continue to look for updates from the District Attorney’s Office.”
The alleged thief started pilfering the youth league’s money shortly after she was elected to her position in early 2019 – with O’Brien’s scheme uncovered when she was ousted from the role last July and replaced with a new treasurer, according to the criminal complaint, obtained by local outlets.
Prosecutors said the organization’s board of directors became suspicious when O’Brien continuously failed to meet with her replacement to turn over the financial accounts, resulting in the new treasurer threatening to go to the bank to sort out the league’s affairs.
O’Brien then allegedly confessed to association members last September that she started stealing the money after a car accident put her and her husband out of work, claiming she was “in a rough spot,” according to the filing.
The alleged poacher turned over nearly $3,500 of the remaining stolen funds from the league’s accounts.
Prosecutors said the fraudster squandered the money at multiple retailers, including Sephora, Amazon, Kohls, Nike, White House/Black Market, TJ Maxx, Sam’s Club, and Target, with various payments made to restaurants, pharmacies, concert venues, liquor stores, an insurance company and pet supply shops.
O’Brien also used the funds to pay off credit cards, court documents show.
She was charged with theft by unlawful taking, misapplication of entrusted property, receiving stolen property and access device fraud, multiple outlets reported.
“Judge [Matt] Rudzki arraigned my client today on the charges and granted non-monetary Bond on the allegations,” Obrien’s attorney, Phil DiLucente, told WPXI.
“We are hopeful to have this matter resolved sooner rather than later.”
O’Brien is due back in court on April 23.
