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Former youth baseball leader accused of stealing from kids

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The man who controlled the books for West Seneca Youth Baseball Association is now facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.

Kevin Chodkowski, 46, is accused of embezzling more than $49,000 from the baseball association. This allegedly happened during Chodkowski's tenure as president of the association between 2011-2014.

"It's probably more than that, but that's all we can account for," West Seneca Youth Baseball Association Board Member, Richard Schunke said.

Today Chodkowski was arraigned in Erie County Court. Prosecutors asked for his bail to be set at $50,000, but Judge Thomas P. Franczyk set bail at $25,000. In court the District Attorney said the West Seneca man would cash unauthorized checks, withdraw money multiple times with the association's bank card, put fundraiser money into his personal account, and even gamble at the casino using the baseball team's money.

Board members say they didn't realize anything was amiss until Chodkowski told them there wasn't enough money in the account to build new diamonds on the team's field. The board then asking investigators to look into where the money was going. Board members say Chodkowski would never show them financial records during meetings. 

West Seneca Youth Baseball Association service about 300 community kids. Leaders say the association has made changes to keep this from happening again. 

 

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