Eagan Man Charged with Stealing from Ice-Skating Club

An Eagan man has been charged with stealing more than $150,000 from a nonprofit Minneapolis ice-skating club while serving as the club’s treasurer.

John Paul Rodrigues, 57, faces two felony charges of theft, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Rodrigues was appointed the club’s treasurer in August 2004, and resigned the position last November after board members confronted him about the missing money.

Rodrigues had sole access to the club’s bank account, as well as its ATM card, the complaint says.

“A review of account transactions from January 2005 to October 2009 revealed numerous and excessive unaccounted-for cash withdrawals in an amount exceeding $119,000,” the complaint says.

Most of the withdrawals took place at a bank branch in Eagan, close to Rodrigues’ home, according to the complaint.

When board members initially asked Rodrigues for verification of the club’s finances, he repeatedly avoided turning over the information, the complaint says. When he did provide the records, the account balance – which should have been about $25,000 – was actually $300.

Rodrigues admitted to board members during subsequent meetings that he owed the club money, estimating the amount at about $25,000. “The defendant was not cooperative in regards to providing the club [with] financial records that were in his possession,” the complaint says.

A forensic accounting analysis of the club’s bank account determined that while Rodrigues served as its treasurer, more than $157,500 was withdrawn in cash or telephone withdrawals and was unaccounted for.

The accountant determined that Rodrigues transferred $25,070 from the club’s bank account into his personal account between May and October 2009, and also transferred $32,500 of the club’s money into his account between November 2008 and April 2009, according to the complaint.

Rodrigues is scheduled to make a first appearance on the theft charges Aug. 29 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.