Man Who Stole $560,000 from Youth Leagues, Says Sorry, Heads to the Slammer

David Marshall, of the Eastern Region of Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc. has told U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano he is sorry.

The former director was sentenced last week in conjunction with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit and using such money for his own personal gain. Marshall, as reported by LevittownNow.com, plead guilty back in January to one count of wire fraud.

Marshall, a 58-year-old from Jackson, New Jersey was sentenced to 27 months in prison, ordered to make $560,000 restitution and will undergo three years of supervised release after he serves prison time, all in what a judge called “serial embezzlement”.

Marshall worked for Pop Warner on a voluntary basis and held various positions within the organization before becoming regional director for the Eastern Region back in 2005. During much of this time, Marshall was in control of the region’s finances for the nonprofit, according to authorities.

Pop Warner is known throughout the area as a nonprofit which runs youth football, cheer and dance programs in more than 40 states. In his role, Marshall oversaw activities in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.. The organization is based in Langhorne.

“I’d like to say I’m truly embarrassed and ashamed by my actions,” Marshall said. He was accompanied by his wife, two daughters and his son-in-law, although he said he hasn’t been able to keep his entire family intact. “I have not spoken to or seen my son in the past five months because of this issue,” Marshall said.

Pisano stressed that his personal sympathy was limited.

According to authorities, Marshall improperly used funds from Pop Warner bank accounts in an effort to pay off personal credit card debts, make cash withdrawals and purchase personal items unrelated to the nonprofit, including paying for his daughter’s wedding, college tuition, cellphones, a cruise and a gambling trip

Marshall said his actions spiraled out of control, and after taking money to “catch up on bills” he attempted to put the money back.

“It didn’t happen,” Pisano said. “It never happens.”

Although Marshall’s representation Brian P. Kelly asked Pisano for leniency, stating as a result Marshall has “lost his job, been on the verge of losing his home and been alienated from and ostracized in the community.”

Pisano said, “What kind of message do we send if you get a pass on this? I can’t minimize this crime.”

“It is always sad when someone betrays the trust of so many people, but one individual cannot overshadow the work of thousands of honest, selfless volunteers around the country who give so much in serving our young athletes,” said Josh Pruce, a Pop Warner spokesman. “This should not tarnish them. We are confident in and appreciative of the current Eastern Region team. They have adopted new, recommended accounting policies to protect against such an event in the future. Their work has helped restore the trust.”