Man who embezzled from youth sports league to repay, avoids jail

by Nancy A. Fischer
Buffalo News

NIAGARA FALLS — Paul Boyd's friends said they still have not gotten over the shock of learning that he had embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from a youth sports league.

But they have forgiven him and that, combined with their pleas to a judge for compassion, will help keep Boyd out of jail.

Boyd, 47, of 101st Street, was sentenced Friday to three years probation and ordered to repay all of the more than $52,000 he stole over a four-year period from the Cayuga Youth Athletic League.

Boyd told City Court Judge Robert P. Merino that he wanted to publicly apologize to his wife and the board and said he will “definitely handle restitution.”

Merino said he initially did not want to grant Boyd probation, but changed his mind after receiving letters in support of Boyd from board members and after Boyd showed willingness to cooperate with authorities.

Merino recalled a case like Boyd's 25 years ago involving a youth football league. He said he sees similarities among such embezzling cases.

“There is a lack of control sometimes and there is more trust [in these groups] than in the business world,” he said. “I see people harmed, but who is actually harmed are the children.”

Boyd spent a decade as the treasurer of the Cayuga Youth Athletic League. Friends and colleagues said he was dedicated to the organization. But when his Western New York Mobile Home Business started to have financial difficulties, he dipped into the group's coffers.

“Here's a guy who leads a law abiding life and bends over backwards for an organization, but his business takes a little bit at a time and suddenly it gets overwhelming,” Joseph L. Leone Jr., Boyd's attorney, said following the court appearance. “Basically he's a decent man, but he was overwhelmed by financial need.”

Boyd originally was charged with felony grand larceny, but he agreed to plead guilty last month to a reduced charge of petit larceny. He immediately paid back $20,000. In court on Thursday, Leone said his client also had another $5,000 to hand over to the association.

Board President Jeremy Mixon said in a letter to the court that friends have forgiven him. When Boyd appeared in court, Mixon sat next to him.

Merino told Boyd he must also abstain from alcohol, make restitution payments of $750 per month, serve 40 hours in the Niagara County sheriff work program and perform 75 hours of community service. Boyd also was fined $500.