Vista Pop Warner is asking for donations to survive what it described as a “huge misappropriation of funds at the hands of a former board member.”
A statement from the youth football league claims there is an investigation underway into the theft of between $90,000 to $100,000.
"The loss of funds has crippled the organization," the statement reads.
"In October of last year some vendors who are owed money by Vista Pop Warner contacted members other than the ones usually responsible for the money saying we hadn't been paid," Kenneth Elliott, attorney representing the board members told NBC 7. "An investigation began late September early October. It was pretty clear pretty early on that a former board member had appropriated funds to themselves rather than paying the vendors. By the time we had all the paperwork that we needed we calculated about $93,000 loss."
The league believes the theft began in March 2014 and continued through late Fall 2015.
"I'm disgusted," head cheer coach and parent Amber Arredondo said. "I'm so disappointed. I just I can't believe that somebody would do that to these kids and be involved in their lives. It's just, it's disgusting."
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is investigating according to the league’s statement. SDSO spokesperson Jan Caldwell told NBC 7, "This is an ongoing matter and right now, there is nothing we can say."
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In order to continue operations, VPW said it needs donations to pay back creditors owed.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
