A former city employee and college basketball coach in Indiana is accused of using $246,000 in city funds to buy sports card boxes, some of which he sold online for profit.
Mark Green, 51, the former parks superintendent in Columbia City, near Ft. Wayne, is now facing charges of corrupt business Influence, official misconduct and four counts of theft.
A local media report cited court documents in its story that Green bought boxes of cards from a local hobby shop using a city credit card. Court documents indicate the scheme lasted from 2018 until just recently. The Columbia City Clerk-Treasurer’s Office discovered questionable expenditures and the Indiana State Police then began an investigation that resulted in the charges from the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office.
Green had worked for the city for 20 years but was recently fired from his parks job and also stepped down as an assistant basketball coach at nearby Huntington University.
He turned himself into authorities and was released the same day under $50,000 bond. He’s expected in court next week.
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eBay is getting in on the trade night craze with its own multi-city tour hosted at local hobby shops.
Collectors are invited to bring cards, made trades and share the hobby with others. Food and drinks will be provided, but they’re asking for RSVPs at the Facebook event page.
The first stop is Saturday at Baseball Card Connection in Effingham, IL from 4 PM to 7 PM.
Other stops will include May 13 at Santiago Sports in Matawan, NJ; June 10 at Troll & Toad, a gaming store in Lexington KY and as yet unannounced dates at Hoody’s Collectibles in Beaverton,l OR and Bullpen LA.
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The gold trimmed uniforms worn by the Houston Astros on opening day are now up for auction.
Created to commemorate the team’s 2022 World Series title, they’re being offered by MLB Auctions, with proceeds going to charity.
Game jerseys with the 2022 World Series champions patch, caps and helmets from Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman and the jersey and cap donned by manager Dusty Baker during the March 30 contest are among the listings.
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The pucks shot by David Pastrnak for his 250th and 251st career goals are among 70 up for auction at MeiGray.
The two goals on November 19 helped the Boston Bruins to a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden.
Several other pucks from the Bruins’ record setting season are also on the block along with others shot for goals by Nathan MacKinnon, Dylan Larkin, Matty Beniers, Nikita Kucherov and Cale Makar.
All 70 pucks are from games played early in the 2022-23 season.
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Former City Employee Avoids Jail for Using City Credit Card to Buy Sports Cards
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Astro-nomical Start: Yordan Alvarez Pre-Rookie Card Guide
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Jeff Juden Q&A: Signing Autographs in High School; Memorable MLB Debut; Collecting Cards
Notes: Rash of Burglaries at Ohio Shops; LeBron Triple-Double, Olympic Hockey Jersey Auctions
Shop Talk: Dealing with Recent In-Store Theft
Notes: Burglars Tunnel Into NorCal Shop
