October 8, 2014

Former Booster Club President Guilty of Wire Fraud

BEAUMONT, TX—A 53-year-old Beaumont man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. attorney John M. Bales.

William Elzy Kelley, Jr., also known as Bo Kelley, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, Kelley was president of the West Brook High School Football Booster Club from 2012 to February 2014. During which time Kelley had access to the Booster Club’s funds, which were kept in separate checking and savings accounts. From Sep. 2013 through Feb. 2014, Kelley withdrew funds from these accounts to pay personal expenses, including, but not limited to rent payments at Stoneleigh Apartments, college tuition, and other household bills. Kelley carried out the scheme by withdrawing cash and depositing it into his personal bank account and by using the debit card and writing checks on the account for his personal use. Kelley is specifically charged with using the Booster Club debit card to make a payment to Stoneleigh Apartments in the amount of $922.42 on Dec. 3, 2013.

Kelley faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Joint Task Force established in March 2014 between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute major crimes—more specifically, violent crime and crimes related to the abuse of public trust in Jefferson County, Texas.

“We have all been terribly disappointed with instance after instance of graft, abuse of authority and now, in Mr. Kelly’s instance, just plain theft,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “This defendant masqueraded as a volunteer who only had West Brook’s best interests at heart—instead, he looted the booster club and so now he will join the growing parade of those who will be held accountable for violating our trust.”

“Today’s guilty plea is a prime example that our investigations are not limited to only public entities, but actually encompass a broad range of fraud involving related organizations and associations,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Cory Crenshaw.

If you have any information related to this or any other matter related to fraud, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 409-832-8571.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Beaumont Police Department, and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Batte and Christopher T. Tortorice.