Ben Shoulders, a familiar name in Vanderburgh County as a former commissioner, finds himself at the center of a scandal involving the misuse of campaign funds. The accusations paint a picture of Shoulders using his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account as a personal piggy bank for buying high-value baseball cards, rather than for legitimate campaign expenses.
The saga unfolded when a probable cause affidavit filed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court detailed the eyebrow-raising purchases made by Shoulders. Among the items listed in the document are a $235 Johnny Bench rookie card and a $570 Satchel Paige card, deceptively recorded as generic campaign supplies like “signs” and “banner.” While these baseball card acquisitions stood out, investigators also flagged other peculiar expenses, notably nearly $500 spent on Pokémon cards, camouflaged as “signs” from a local store.
The plot thickened when Shoulders reached out to the Evansville Police Department in October 2023, alleging fraudulent activity on his campaign account. His claim of losing the debit card in April and being unaware of subsequent charges during May to August quickly unraveled under scrutiny. Evidence surfaced pointing to Shoulders as the sole authorized user of the account, with purchases of rare baseball cards, such as Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays collectibles, all conveniently sent to his residence.
An interesting twist in the narrative emerges as it’s revealed that Shoulders attempted to recoup over $26,000 from Old National Bank, citing fraudulent charges. The bank, however, rejected his reimbursement request. Curiously, a month following this failed endeavor, Shoulders bid farewell to his position as commissioner, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
Subsequently, the former commissioner found himself in hot water, facing charges ranging from attempted fraud to filing a false report. After being released on a $500 bond, Shoulders awaited his day in court. The allegations didn’t stop at the baseball card mishap, as discrepancies concerning checks labeled as charitable contributions were uncovered. Rather than being directed to noble causes, these funds found their way into a business account controlled by Shoulders, painting a murky financial picture.
With the case against Ben Shoulders unfolding like a riveting drama, the community watches with bated breath to see how this tale of alleged misuse of campaign funds for personal indulgence will conclude.
