Former Osawatomie rec director gets probation in embezzling scheme

Osawatomie’s former recreation director was sentenced Monday to five years of federal probation for embezzling more than $125,000 from the city.

Ron Maring, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud and false statement and one count of money laundering in a federal criminal case, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a news release. In his plea, he admitted to cutting checks to himself and to American Legion Baseball from the recreation commission’s account and then using the money for personal gain. Maring also admitted to persuading recreation commission board members to sign blank checks then used his signature and that of an employee to endorse them, Beall said.

Maring failed to report the embezzling income on his 2010 federal tax return, which would have boosted his tax obligation by $14,902. The Kansas Department of Revenue, Internal Revenue Service and Osawatomie Police Department investigated, Beall said.

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Former Osawatomie rec director gets probation in embezzling scheme."