Ben Shoulders, the former Vanderburgh County Commissioner, is in hot water after being accused of using campaign funds for an unusual kind of shopping spree involving high-value baseball cards. The scandal unfolded when a probable cause affidavit was lodged in Vanderburgh Circuit Court, revealing that Shoulders allegedly splurged more than $41,000 on eBay using a debit card tied to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account and disguising these purchases on his campaign finance reports.
Among the eyebrow-raising acquisitions were a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, curiously listed as mundane items like “signs” and “banner” in campaign documentation. While most expenses seemed above board, the conspicuous baseball card buys and additional outlays on nearly $500 worth of Pokémon cards, mislabeled as “signs” from a local store, triggered suspicion among investigators.
The investigation kicked off when Shoulders himself approached the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, alleging fraudulent activity on his campaign account. He asserted that he had lost his debit card circa April and disavowed knowledge of the disputed charges between May and August. However, a deeper probe uncovered conflicting evidence, such as records indicating Shoulders as the solo authorized user of the account and continued purchases post the reported card loss.
Correspondences disclosed multiple eBay confirmations for rare baseball card orders, encompassing 1965 and 1967 Mickey Mantle cards and a 1966 Willie Mays card, all mailed to Shoulders’ residence. Police alleged he used his campaign account for these transactions.
Bank records further hinted at Shoulders’ unsuccessful bid to secure over $26,000 from Old National Bank’s fraud unit as reimbursement for the purported fraudulent charges. His reimbursement plea rebuffed, Shoulders resigned as a commissioner merely a month later, bidding adieu with the statement, “It has truly been an honor to serve our great county as a public servant.”
Following his detainment, Shoulders faced a litany of charges, ranging from attempted fraud to filing a false report. He was released on a $500 bond pending an initial court appearance. The affidavit also unearthed discrepancies concerning checks earmarked as charitable contributions, yet diverted into a business account under Shoulders’ purview.
