Douglas County files charges on youth baseball organizer accused of gambling player’s fees

OMAHA, Neb. —

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has filed a theft by deception charge against Sam Leng, a youth baseball organizer, accusing him of defrauding 17 families to support his gambling addiction.

Families from the Omaha Nighthawks youth baseball team first raised concerns in February, saying they were left without refunds after paying for their children to play on the team.

READ MORE: Omaha police investigating potential fraud in youth baseball teams dissolved after families paid thousands

According to court records, Josiah Hollibaugh, one of the parents, told investigators that several families paid $1,250 each for their sons to play on the 14-and-under team.

Shortly after receiving the payments, Hollibaugh said Leng emailed the families, stating he was dissolving the organization and promising refunds that never came.

“I’m operating under the assumption that that money’s gone,” Hollibaugh said in February.

An affidavit revealed that investigators examined Leng’s payment accounts and found that between July 2022 and November 2022, he collected over $18,000 from the victims, including Hollibaugh’s payment.

When investigators met with Leng in July, they said he admitted to having a gambling addiction, using the payments for gambling, and told them he “could not afford to replace them.”

Charges have only been filed against Leng at this point, and the sheriff’s office has identified 17 victims.

However, investigators noted that the team included at least 40 youth players, suggesting there could be additional victims.

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