A former board president of Central Little League in Las Vegas is facing multiple charges for allegedly embezzling nearly $65,000 in league funds for personal use. Steve Rodriguez Prado was arrested on July 2 and charged with one count of theft, two counts of forgery, and one count of a convicted person failing to register with local law enforcement.
According to arrest records obtained by 8 News Now, Prado is accused of spending league money on a range of personal expenses including casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, air travel, strip clubs, ride-shares, video games, car insurance, and erectile dysfunction medication. The alleged misuse of funds left the Central Little League with only $25 in its bank account, nearly forcing the suspension of the remainder of its season.
Detectives reported that Prado made over 75 Zelle transfers to a business owned by his wife, totaling approximately $64,000. Evidence gathered by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department includes a strip club receipt for $1,351, which reportedly included a $433 tip, and nearly $2,000 spent on casino trips. A further $294 was accounted for on erectile dysfunction medication.
Robert Fleming, District 2 Administrator for Nevada Little League, expressed devastation over the allegations. He commented to 8 News Now that the situation was a "shame" and that he wished penalties could be more severe, even humorously suggesting children could throw baseballs at offenders.
Donations from several organizations, including the Athletics, ultimately saved the Central Little League's season from an untimely end. The league was able to continue play following the financial strain caused by the alleged embezzlement.