Update (August 21, 2020): The former treasurer of the Corner Brook Minor Hockey Association will find out in two months if she’ll stand trial on theft and fraud charges. A preliminary inquiry into the case was set for October 22 and 23.
Corner Brook (January 23, 2020) – The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) charged a woman in the wake of the Corner Brook Minor Hockey investigation. According to the local press, the accused woman is Melissa Williams, the former treasurer of the association. In March 2019, the Corner Brook Minor Hockey Association (CBMHA) launched an internal audit after they recognized financial irregularities in their books within the period of Fall 2017 and Spring 2019. The RNC did not disclose the exact amount stolen. However, local news disseminated that the CBMHA is missing over $89,000.
A 46-year-old woman is facing six charges of theft and fraud as a result of the ‘Minor Hockey investigation’ into financial irregularities of the Corner Brook Minor Hockey Association (CBMHA), the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) announced in a press release on January 14.
The former employee of the organization who has been accused by the RNC is CBMHA’s former treasurer, Melissa Williams, according to documents attained by The Western Star. The financial irregularities in CBMHA’s books investigated by the authorities occurred in the period of Fall 2017 and Spring 2019.
Financial irregularities
In March 2019, the CBMHA confirmed that they found financial irregularities in their books. As a consequence, they launched an internal audit. The results of the audit were later turned over to the police after the organization filed a complaint with the RNC.
The RNC did not disclose the exact amount, which allegedly was stolen from the association or how the fraud supposedly has been conducted. However, according to local news, over $89,000 are missing by the CBMHA, which is the estimated amount the association is behind on its ice time bill to the city’s Civic Center.
‘The City has confirmed an amount for ice rental bills at the Civic Centre; it’s more than that but the investigation is still ongoing and there’s possibly more information that could come forward,’ RNC Const. Scott Mosher told The Western Star. ‘We’re not in a position to finalize a total dollar amount at this time.’
While the investigation is still ongoing, the CBMHA is working to pay off their debt to the city. The city offered the local association an accommodation: a two-year interest-free loan to give them time to repay the debt. In order to come up with the extra money, the organization is planning additional fundraising events over the year.
Former treasurer charged with theft and fraud
As a result of the RNC’s Minor Hockey investigation, now, Williams has been charged with Theft Over $5,000, Fraud Over $5,000, False Pretenses, Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card, and two counts of Uttering a Forged Document. She is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on February 18.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC at 637-4100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be provided anonymously on the NL Crime Stoppers website at www.nlcrimestoppers.com.
