Mark Green, the former superintendent of Columbia City Parks and Recreation, has found himself at the center of a scandal that has rocked the city. Green was sentenced to three years in prison for pilfering over $240,000 from the city’s funds, a portion of which he used to indulge in his passion for baseball cards.
The saga began when suspicious financial transactions caught the attention of Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel in March 2023. This prompted an in-depth investigation spearheaded by the Mayor, in collaboration with the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts. The investigative efforts culminated in Green’s termination from his position, exposing the depth of his wrongdoing.
Court documents unveiled the shocking revelation that Green had spent a staggering $246,000 on baseball cards from a store named ‘Sport Spot,’ utilizing the city’s credit card for these unauthorized purchases. To add insult to injury, Green then went on to sell some of the ill-gotten cards on eBay, compounding his misconduct.
Initially facing a slew of charges including corrupt business influence, theft, and official misconduct, Green struck a plea deal in April 2024. By entering a guilty plea to a single count of theft, Green managed to dodge the other charges. However, this agreement mandated that Green reimburse a total of $275,628, with $100,000 directed towards a bond company and the remaining $175,628 allocated for restitution to the city.
The sentencing verdict was handed down on Monday, with the court decreeing that Green would spend the initial year of his three-year term either behind bars or on a work release program. The subsequent two years will see him under probationary supervision, serving as a sobering reminder of the repercussions of financial malfeasance.
This scandal has sparked concerns regarding the oversight mechanisms in place at Columbia City’s Parks and Recreation Department. It has underscored the necessity for stricter controls and enhanced vigilance to protect public funds from unscrupulous individuals like Mark Green. The fallout from this incident serves as a cautionary tale for all organizations entrusted with managing public finances, emphasizing the critical need for transparency and accountability in all financial transactions.
