A Joplin banker has been charged with embezzling nearly $70,000 from Miracle League of Joplin and blowing it at area casinos.
An arrest warrant was issued February 7 by Ottawa County, Oklahoma authorities for Aaron Allen Smith, 48, a vice president and loan officer at Mid-Missouri Bank. Smith served as treasurer for Miracle League.
According to the probable cause statement, the alleged embezzlement was uncovered by Miracle League board member Shawn Daniel who found unauthorized transactions had been made on Smith's debit card and contacted the Joplin Police Department.
From the probable cause statement:
Board member Shawn Daniel reported the current estimated loss of nearly $70,000. Of that amount $59,316 occurred at Downstream Casino Resort (DCR), located at 69300 East Nee Road in rural Quapaw, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.
The transactions occurred between August of 2024 and December of 2024. Additional unauthorized transactions were conducted at Indigo Sky Casino in rural Wyandotte, Oklahoma, the Hardrock Casino in Catoosa, Oklahoma, and at ATMs in Joplin, Missouri, all of which are being investigated in their respective jurisdictions.
Shawn Daniel said the debit card was issued to Aaron Smith by the Miracle League of Joplin Board and stated the account is with US Bank in Joplin, Missouri. The fund in the account are specific to the Miracle League of Joplin expenses and are subject to the board's approval.
Shawn Daniel provided me with bank statements from US Bank dated January 2024-November 2024 for {the account} which is linked to the debit card.
On December 18, 2024, Aaron Smith made a $50,000 deposit into the Miracle League of Joplin account from his personal banking account with Commerce Bank in Joplin. On December 19, 2024, the deposit was returned and the funds were removed from the Miracle League of Joplin's account.
Ottawa County authorities phoned Smith January 9 to schedule an interview, according to the probable cause statement.
Aaron Smith stated he would check his calendar and return my call. I later learned Aaron Smith contacted an attorney. As of January 14, 2025, I have not heard from Aaron Smith or an attorney on his behalf.
18 comments:
Shocking! Just imagine the millions of stolen funds that go unnoticed! But hey, casinos are great for our community! Great for money laundering, the drug scene, human trafficking and boosting our free and reduced lunch numbers.
Agreed!
I hope that whatever Judge, Mr. Creepy gets, will throw the book at him and give him the maximum sentence allowable! It's time to make an example of these people. And about the casinos, any decent society would not allow them. They're getting their "Red Man's Revenge" all the way to the bank.
I'd like to see the casinos "donate" the money back to the organization.
Casinos don’t care where the money comes from, as long as it gets spent there. Between, them and sports betting, more money will be embezzled and more families ruined. Gambling is evil.
Yes, What we need is more Gambling in the United States to Prey on the Weak and Fill their Delusional and Addicted Minds with Visions of Grander - Reminding us that Gambling can Solve all Your Problems - Isn't that Why we Voted in Sports Betting in Missouri? So our Schools would be Paved with Gold and Making every Teacher a Millionaire -
How many Times in the Past Few Years - have we seen these same Headlines - Where another Non-Profit has been Embezzled from - because they lack any Accountability and Internal Controls within the Non-Profit? Thus, making them easy Targets to Embezzle from.
I hope, Aaron Allen Smith, loses his Job and is Prosecuted to the Fullest Extent of the Law, and Serves Times - The major problem is that several of the Local Embezzlers from Non-Profit have been given - No-Jail Time, Slaps on the Wrist, and Repayment Schedules - Because we have - Weak Prosecutors and Judges - and run their Court Rooms - As Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Cards for Criminals. So, Stop being Soft on Criminals and Do Your Jobs!
6:15 you are spot on
At least it wasn't spent in a redneck way like on hookers or drugs!
The Indians always end up with the embezzled money around these parts
Indian or not they have the only legal casinos in our area. I don't care who owns them, they are bad for our community.
The comment about the casino donating the $ back is hilarious. The Quapaw tribe has corrupt members in charge of their money, who will steal from their own elders. Just another disgusting form of out-of-control government. The tribe has infighting as well, & it's all about the money. The Quapaws could use a form of DOGE.
Interesting Fact - If the Money Used / Gambled with was Illegally obtained or Embezzled - Why Shouldn't the Casinos be Required to Return It - - Oh, Yea - We All Owe the Indians Retributions for what our Ancestors did 200-Years Ago - So we can Create Special Rules, Laws, and Tax Advantages just for them - Sorry I forgot that in America we have Special Rules, Laws, and Tax Guidelines for Various - Groups -
For all the people dissing gambling if you don't like it don't go, but don't ruin it for the rest of us that see it as entertainment.
People watching at the casino is at least half the fun of going!
Trying to guess which losers are losing their own money and which losers are losing Other People's Money!
How about we start going after the car dealers who sold a car bought If the Money Used / Gambled with was Illegally obtained or Embezzled?
How were they to know?
Answer it doesn't matter because reasons!
Seriously? Gambling is the kind of entertainment that's like watching a train wreck with all your family and friends on board in slow motion. Somebody's gonna live, somebody's gonna die. Sounds like a real peach of a time 459.
How many casinos has Trump owned or owns?
And yet millions of people voted for a man running for President that owns or has owned numerous casinos...
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