West Harford Sports Camp Founder Charged With Embezzlement

Rhode Island State Police have arrested Dan Doyle Jr., 64, of West Hartford, the executive director of the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island.

Doyle, 64, is accused of embezzling more than $1 million from the institute for personal expenses to the Kingswood Oxford School and/or Oberlin College, his basketball and poetry camps, household expenses and additional expenses, according to a news release from Peter Kilmartin, Attorney General of the state of Rhode Island and Rhode Island State Police Colonel Steven O’Donnell.

Eighteen counts have been filed against Doyle, including seven counts of embezzlement, one count of obtaining money under false pretenses, five counts of forgery, and five counts of filing a false document.

Doyle pleaded not guilty on Friday, according to the Associated Press, and his attorney said his client disputes the allegations.

Rhode Island gave the institute more than $7.3 million between 1988 and 2011.

Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit and the Office of the Attorney General began investigating in February 2012 and said Doyle is accused of personally collecting more than $1 million in unauthorized salary increases, bonuses and personal expenses paid for by Institute funds.

Officials said in a news release that personal expenses include non-business expenses, as well as payments to Bates College, his Hall of Fame Press publishing company, as well as household expenses.

Doyle’s sports camps were held on the campus of the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, according to the Doyle Programs Web site.

The news release from the Attorney General and Rhode Island state police says funds from the Hassenfeld Foundation to be used to build the Hassenfeld-Hogg Center for Sports Leadership Building were obtained under false pretenses.

Bail was set at $100,000 with surety. He was ordered to surrender his passport by Monday. His travel is restricted to Rhode Island and Connecticut and he is due in court on May 17 for a pre-trial conference.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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