Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball Head Accused Of Larceny: Cops

STAMFORD, CT — The longtime president of Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball was arrested by Stamford police Friday and accused of embezzling more than $1,500 from the group, announced Stamford Police Lt. Thomas Scanlon.

Charles R. Pia, 62, was charged with fifth-degree larceny, failure to register as a charitable organization, and misallocation of property of a charitable organization for private use.

"The City of Stamford has received complaints about his suspected impropriety for many years," said Scanlon in a statement Friday afternoon. "Over the course of a year and a half long investigation, Investigator Heather Bozentko determined that Pia improperly utilized Girls Softball funds to pay for services to his personal vehicle and to pay utility bills at his home."

In addition to the alleged theft, Bozentko also found that Stamford Girls Softball did not file the proper documentation with the State of Connecticut to qualify as a charitable organization, however Pia continued to purport on the website and conducted business as a charitable organization. Bozentko's "hard work and extensive hours" on the case were recognized by the department, according to Scanlon.

The organization’s federal 501(c)3 non-profit designation was revoked in 2014 by the IRS, Scanlon added.

"This is an ongoing investigation and the Stamford Police are looking into other suspicious charges on the Girls Softball account, as well as attempting to identify where cash from raffles, concession stand sales, and other sources were deposited. During the course of the investigation, Pia was unwilling to provide any explanation of the charges or show the accounting and other business records for the organization."

Anyone with information on the financial workings of the Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball organization is urged to contact Stamford Police Investigator Heather Bozentko at (203) 977-4407.