Youth baseball organizer accused of fraud now in custody, Douglas County deputies say

A youth baseball organizer accused of taking families’ fees for gambling is now in custody, Douglas County deputies say.

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Youth baseball organizer accused of fraud, gambling players’ fees now in custody

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Neb. —

The youth baseball organizer accused of defrauding 17 families to support his gambling addiction is in custody, Douglas County deputies said.

Sam Leng faces a theft by deception charge after families from the Omaha Nighthawks youth baseball team raised concerns in February.

Douglas County deputies told KETV that Leng turned himself in on Tuesday.

The families told KETV that they were left without refunds after paying for their children to play on the team.

Previous coverage: Douglas County files charges against youth baseball organizer accused of fraud, gambling players’ fees

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.

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.”

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