Dix Hills Soccer Club President Embezzled $70K: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The president of the Dix Hills Soccer Club was indicted Wednesday after he was accused of embezzling more than $70K from the club's operating account, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Wednesday.

Matthew Dickson, 44, of Dix Hills, was indicted on a charge of second-degree grand larceny.

"Hundreds of children and their families join the Dix Hills Soccer Club every year to be a part of the community, make friends, and learn how to play soccer," Tierney said in a news release. "It is a shame that anyone would want to jeopardize that rite of passage by exploiting their position of trust to steal from those same kids and their families."

James Misiano, Dickson's attorney, said his office will investigate the case.

"Obviously, the American justice system affords Mr. Dickson the presumption of innocence, and I hope the community will give him that same consideration," Misiano told Patch.

Between April and November 2022, Dickson was responsible for paying the bills associated with the Dix Hills Soccer Club, according to the DA's investigation. During that time, Dickson held the position of vice president, and then later, president, of the soccer club, the DA said. Instead of paying the expenses, Dickson allegedly began writing checks to himself and his corporation from the soccer club’s account without the board of directors’ permission, prosecutors said.

Dickson was accused by prosecutors of collecting payments from club members through his personal Venmo account for soccer-related events, which he did not then deposit into the club’s bank account. He also failed to reimburse the club for expenses that he charged on the Dix Hills Soccer Club’s credit card, officials said.

Dickson was arraigned Wednesday and ordered to be released on his own recognizance.

Under current New York state law, Dickson's charge is considered non-bail eligible. He is due back in court on April 12.