Stamford

President of Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball Accused of Stealing Money

The president of the Stamford chapter of Babe Ruth Girls Softball has been arrested, accused of using the organization’s funds for his own use. 

Police said they arrested 62-year-old Charles Pia, the president of the organization, Friday and he has been charged with larceny in the fifth degree, failure to register as a charitable organization and misallocation of property of a charitable organization for private use. 

The City of Stamford received complaints about suspected impropriety for many years, according to police who said they arrested Pia after a year and a half long investigation revealed that he improperly utilized girls softball funds to pay for services to his personal vehicle and to pay utility bills at his home, police said. 

Pia is accused of taking just over $1,500. 

Police said Stamford Girls Softball did not file the proper documentation with the State of Connecticut to qualify as a charitable organization but Pia continued to purport on the website and conduct business as a charitable organization. They said the Internal Revenue Service revoked the organization’s federal 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2014. 

Stamford police said they are looking into other suspicious charges on the Girls Softball account and trying to determine where cash from raffles, concession stand sales and other sources was deposited. 

They ask anyone with information on the financial workings of the Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball organization to call Investigator Heather Bozentko at (203) 977-4407. 

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