Latest news with #Ellen'sGreatestNightofGiveaways
San Francisco Chronicle
23-04-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland gym exec pleads guilty in embezzlement case that involved $50,000 Steph Curry donation
The former executive director of an East Oakland boxing gym admitted Wednesday embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars, including a $50,000 donation Stephen and Ayesha Curry bestowed upon the gym. Howard Solomon, who ran the East Oakland Boxing Association from 2016 to 2021, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion as part of the scheme, admitting he embezzled funds, including charitable contributions, from the nonprofit. The association offers various programs for low-income children, teens and young adults, including boxing lessons. Solomon, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 14. Howard and his attorney, Randy Sue Pollock, declined to comment in court Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Green to report back on any 'perspective' the Currys shared in regards to the sentence Howard faces. 'That's a lot of money they gave to this community,' Gonzalez Rogers said. As part of the scheme, Solomon made purchases for himself from Amazon with the association's debit cards, then falsely labeled the purchases as generic descriptions, among them 'program supplies,' prosecutors said in court records. The items he purchased included a queen-sized bed and cooling mattress for about $1,400 in 2020, according to the records. Solomon also used association funds to pay for a vacation rental and a Ford Explorer, which he later traded in for a Cadillac Escalade, with a $24,000 credit, prosecutors said, adding that the car was registered to his name for his personal use. Among the funds he embezzled was the donation the Currys bestowed upon the gym in 2019 as part of a segment on an Ellen DeGeneres show called 'Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways.' DeGeneres and celebrities partnered to give away money to charitable causes. As part of the segment, the Golden State Warriors' point guard and his celebrity chef wife showed up to the gym in a box truck with a few surprises: brand new punching bags, boxing gloves, computers and other gifts. The final surprise was a big check — the $50,000 donation. 'Hopefully it goes a long way, man,' the basketball star told Solomon as the two men hugged. Failing to disclose the embezzled funds, Solomon also underreported his taxable income from 2018 to 2021, prosecutors said. As part of his plea, Solomon agreed to pay $549,000 in restitution to the gym and $287,000 to the Internal Revenue Service. Green, the federal prosecutor, said the government was prepared to prove Howard embezzled at least $549,000 and failed to pay $287,000 in taxes as a result of the scheme.
CBS News
04-03-2025
- CBS News
Former Oakland youth boxing program director faces mail fraud, tax evasion charges
The former director of an Oakland nonprofit pleaded not guilty Monday to embezzling more than $100,000 from the organization he once led. Howard Solomon ran the East Oakland Boxing Association, a nonprofit organization that provides boxing lessons, coaching and mentorship to children. The gym is located on 98th St. near San Leandro. As the director of EOBA, Solomon was in charge of managing daily operations, fundraising and oversight of the organization's budget and finances. He's accused of using EOBA funds for personal use and is facing charges of embezzlement, mail fraud and tax evasion. Back in 2019 Steph and Ayesha Curry were guests on the Ellen DeGeneres special "Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways" when they presented Solomon and his organization with $50,000 and gifts. According to court documents, he pocketed that money. Solomon has been accused of embezzling funds collected for the organization since at least 2017. He allegedly used money from EOBA accounts to purchase $100,000 worth of personal items from Amazon and falsely claimed these purchases were for the organization. He allegedly used the organization's accounts to pay for vacation rental properties and bought a Ford Explorer with EOBA funds that he later traded in for a Cadillac Escalade. Solomon is charged with owing more federal income tax than was declared due on his federal income tax returns and filing false and fraudulent income tax returns for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. He appeared in federal district court on Monday and entered a not guilty plea. He is currently out on a $25,000 bond.
