Peterson is charged with three counts of stealing and two counts of money laundering.
According to the probable cause statement, Peterson stole more than $140,000 from the city between 2020 and 2022.Peterson was taking money from the operation of the municipal golf course and depositing it into multiple bank accounts labeled as "Mark Peterson DBA Pete's Pro Shop," the statement said.
Peterson's next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 8.
11 comments:
Let's see how Mark Peterson, who pleaded not guilty to stealing, can spin how $140,000 showed up in multiple Business Accounts with his name on it. Would he and his attorneys Glades, think we all believe in magic or behind the scenes are they trying to cut the deal of the century with just probation and restitution. They do not want to go to a jury trial!
They could always try IOKIYAR!
At many golf courses the club pro gets to keep the proceeds from tournaments as a bonus for the extra time and work put in. Many also keep all proceeds from the pro shop.
He's innocent
"At many golf courses the club pro gets to keep the proceeds from tournaments as a bonus for the extra time and work put in. Many also keep all proceeds from the pro shop." Maybe privately held golf courses, not ones owned by a city government.
Randy-
Was there a written contract with the city?
If what I’m reading is accurate that he was being compensated for his time and working knowledge of golf events from events being held at a city owned facility how is this any different than Landis renting and controlling all the baseball fields in Joplin and turning a profit from the events he hosts?
When you read the probable cause statement it explains what he was doing.
Yes, what some Pro's do at some private clubs, does not constitute what Peterson's agreement/contract is at the city/government owned club. I will agree with Anonymous 3:09PM, that Landis is crook and will always be one, but he got that agreement/contract in writing from the STUPID CITY OF JOPLIN, who is always willing to get Scammed...
He's innocent
9:51AM and 5:00AM, I am sure you wish he was Innocent, but the city of Carthage Audited and Investigated him, and they had an Independent Accounting Firm Audit his Accounting Transactions, and the Probable Cause Statement shows the damning information that is very solid. If Brian/Phil Glades can Spin this case to the Judge and Jury, it would be divine intervention, he is not walking away from this with clean hands, and to hide some of this money he bought cryptocurrencies. Again, the Glades are just trying to put together a Deal or he is going to Jail - Quilty as Charged! Too much Evidence to Support Fraud, Theft, and Money Laundering.
PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT
"The facts supporting this belief are as follows: On 12/20/2022 the Carthage Police Department was contacted in reference to a possible theft of fuel at the Carthage Parks Department. During the course of the initial investigation, it was determined that there were also issues with the financials of the Parks Department.
After several interviews with Parks Department and City of Carthage golf course employees, it was determined that a large amount of currency missing from the City of Carthage bank account that should have been deposited from the golf course.
A subsequent investigation occurred, and during that investigation, Mark Peterson had been identified as the suspect for the theft of city funds.
During this investigation, an investigative subpoena was sent to multiple banks for the financial information of Peterson. It was later discovered that Peterson had multiple different accounts of “Mark Peterson DBA Petes Pro Shop”.
After speaking with several employees at the Carthage Golf Course it was discovered that Mark Peterson was the only person that handled large amounts of cash used for payments, tournament checks, and the daily cash deposits (until near the end of 2022). Peterson was also responsible for providing the City of Carthage with spreadsheets, transaction reports, and revenue reports.
An accounting firm, BerganKDV, was contacted in reference to a forensic audit of the city accounts and subpoena information that had been obtained for Mark Peterson. BerganKDV later sent a Summary Report for their findings. Through the course of the forensic audit it was determined that there had been multiple areas throughout the city bank accounts, related to the Carthage Golf Course, that had funds missing.
There were discrepancies between cash sales/checks deposited, tournament checks deposited, and gift card purchases/transactions. The amount missing from the city bank account that was the largest was for golf tournaments paid during the years of 2020-2022. The city did not have $90,844.00 dollars deposited into the expected city account. The bank accounts belonging to Mark Peterson during the same time period had $91,896.73 additional dollars deposited into them with no explanation as to why there was such a large increase in his personal accounts (receipts, payroll changes, etc.).
The amount of missing funds from the city bank account that was reported by the point of sale software as gift cards was $14,225.67 dollars during the project period of 2020-2022. The amount of missing funds from the city bank account that was reported by the point of sale software as cash sales for day to day golf services at the Carthage Golf Course was $37,392.82 dollars.
The point of sale software, transaction documentation, gift cards, credit/debit sales, and cash/check sales were all examined for the time period of 2020-2022. The total amount of money that was not deposited into City of Carthage bank accounts relating to the Carthage Golf Course was $142,462.49.
A review of Peterson’s personal bank accounts and “Mark Peterson DBA Petes Pro Shop” accounts showed large deposits, frequent transfers between the accounts, and several large purchases of cryptocurrency that correlated to the missing funds from the City of Carthage during the same time frame that was reviewed by BerganKDV.”
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