Giovino: Little League Scandal New Black Eye for City

– Ron Giovino

There seems to be never a dull moment in our fair City of Medford.

Just as the year was about to close, word is released of a new potential black eye for Medford, in the form of trouble in youth sports.

In case you haven’t heard, click here to read how District Attorney Gerry Leone’s website describes the allegations.

The Boston Globe added their two cents and comments from the current WMLL president…Stephen Komins left his position shortly after his father retired, according to John D’Orazio, the league’s current president.

When the father and son turned over league finances last fall, all that was left was a bank account with $9 in it and a white envelope containing a $100 bill, D’Orazio said in a phone interview Thursday.

“They had run the league like it was their family business,” D’Orazio said, “and that’s obviously not what a league should be; it’s a nonprofit.”

Complaints were filed against both men Dec. 17, said Stephanie Guyotte, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Reached by phone Thursday, Stanley Komins said he was unaware of the charges.

“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

Medford police, who are also investigating the case, did not return calls Thursday.

A review of revenue from the league’s snack stand, which the Komins ran during games, found that deposits into league accounts were lower than expected and that Stanley Komins made deposits into his personal bank account of small bills and change during the stand’s seasonal operation, said the statement from Leone’s office. Stanley Komins also purchased items unrelated to the league at BJ’s Wholesale club using checks from the league account, the statement said.

Stanley Komins is charged with one count of larceny by embezzlement over $250, and Stephen Komins is charged with larceny by embezzlement over $250, uttering a false check and forgery by check, the statement said.

In addition to the embezzlement, the league also inherited unpaid bills from the tenure of the Komins, including debts to Home Depot for $600, a $1,500 invoice from a landscaper and an umpire who had not been paid for $350 in work, D’Orazio said.

Since the Komins left, the league has used money from fund-raising, donations, and sponsorships to purchase a new scoreboard, speaker system, and batting cage, D’Orazio said.

“We wanted to clean up the mess we had been left,” he said.

The league has been able to recoup $35,000 of the allegedly embezzled money because it had an insurance policy through Little League International, which oversees all community Little Leagues, D’Orazio said.

The league has a brief notice on its website acknowledging the allegations. “We continue to work at being transparent with the parents of West Medford and ensuring that we create a league that the community can be proud of,” the statement says.

Medford City Council President Robert A. Maiocco said Thursday night that he was saddened by the charges. “I think I speak for a lot of people when you hear that,” he said.

Maiocco said that he knows Stanley Komins and that he performed well during his tenure as president.

“He’s always done a good job,” Maiocco said. “Unfortunately, this happened, and you just shake your head.

Mayor Michael McGlynn of Medford said in a phone interview Thursday that the city had no involvement with the financial workings of the league. Stanley Komins was a prominent figure in the city, McGlynn said.

“He was very well known around town,” he said. “It’s very surprising.”

The important thing to remember here is that everyone in this country is innocent until proven guilty, so at this point, they are innocent.

We hate to say we told you so, but for the past eleven years, this column has pleaded with parents and local league officials to become more involved in how their league operates and how the money is spent. Whether Mr. Komins and his son are found guilty or not, this is really an indictment on a community that is too lazy to be involved and this is the end result. And if you think West Medford is the first and only league that has this problem, I would like to sell you some ocean front property in Plum Island!

We were unable to reach the Komins and city officials for comment on this issue because we didn’t want to hear it. Our investigation led back a decade ago to when Stan Komins was on the Board of Directors of the Medford Invitational Tournament.

I have known Stan and Stephen Komins for more than twenty years. Stan was one of the first Little League officials to help me when I became President of North Medford Little League. Stan had a great reputation in youth sports and we asked him to become a board member of the Medford Invitational Tournament when it began back in 1996.

Approximately, ten years ago, Stan was asked to step down from the MIT board due to some “philosophical differences” and we parted ways for good. If the allegations are true, the Komins’ have broken a trust that all volunteers in this city have with the kids and their families. It is a stark reminder to all that any organization needs a set of checks and balances to insure that this can’t happen again. The very nature of being a volunteer is to give of yourself with no expectations of compensation. If you think this is the first time corruption and stealing from non-profit organizations has occurred, you a seriously mistaken. Perhaps this story will finally wake the parents up!

An inside source has informed us that this investigation has been going on for a while and the Globe had prepared a story on this which was preempted by DA Leone’s indictments.

The difficult part of writing an investigative piece of this kind of corruption is the legalities involved in making sure you get it right. Let’s hope Leone has it right. Today, the Komins pair appeared in Somerville District Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Assistant District Attorney Lila Palmer said both men are accused of allegedly stealing in upwards of $50,000 from West Medford Little League.

Judge Neil Walker set a trial date for Friday, Feb. 8 at Somerville District Court at 9 a.m. Both men were also ordered to surrender their passports to the court by Jan. 7.

When the process is concluded and justice is served either way, we will give you our comments.

This writer has battled the Komins family over the West Medford Little League’s banning players from participating in the Medford Invitational Tournament. It is a well-known fact that Stan Komins took his revenge against the MIT after he was removed from the board by not allowing his West Medford all-stars to play in the annual two week classic for twelve year old all-stars. That is not a criminal act, but it is dead wrong. So for us here, Stan Komins has already made it to the Hall of Shame.

More to come on this story…

For now, to disgusted to add any more.