Keely Thompson charged with fraud
Tragic news from WaPo’s Spencer Hsu on Thursday:
Agents with the FBI and D.C. inspector general’s office arrested a former professional boxer Thursday in Prince George’s County on charges that he stole more than $500,000 from his anti-gang youth boxing center in the District.
The center, serving youths from ages 8 to 18, has received more than $1.4 million in District funds for at-risk children since 2004.
Prosecutors charged that between 2004 and 2010, Thompson used the boxing center’s debit card to spend $150,000 on cruises and gambling in Atlantic City, losing more than $140,000 at Bally’s casino alone.
I had actually planned to do a post on Thompson and his center’s financial difficulties, but apparently they may have been self-induced. As usual the real losers here are the kids who aspire to box and now may have nowhere to do so.
For those interested in supporting a DC non-profit that helps kids learn the sweet science, check out Lime Lite Boxing Gym.