S. Komins

Not-guilty pleas were entered for a father and son who have served as president and treasurer of the West Medford Little League organization for years at their arraignment on larceny charges for allegedly embezzling more than $50,000 from the league.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone reported about the arraignment Friday, Jan. 4, and InsideMedford reported the pleas.

Stanley Komins, 78, of Stoneham was arraigned in Somerville District Court on larceny by embezzlement over $250. Stephen Komins, 45, of Stoneham was arraigned on larceny by embezzlement over $250, uttering a false check, and forgery by check.

Somerville District Court Judge Neil Walker released the defendants on personal recognizance with conditions that they surrender their passports and request permission if they wish to leave the Commonwealth, according to a news release from Leone's office.

The defendants’ next scheduled court date is Feb. 8 for a pretrial hearing.

An unidentified source says the amount of money involved is more than $100,000, InsideMedford has reported. The Boston Globe reported Jan. 4 that the amount may top $180,000.

According to authorities, Stanley Komins was the president of the board of directors of the West Medford Little League for more than 20 years. His son, Stephen Komins, held the position of treasurer for many years.

Around October 2011, Stanley Komins announced his retirement from the little league board.  As a result, the board inquired about the league’s finances and Komins refused to provide past records.

An auditing firm was hired by the league and noticed discrepancies in the little league records.  The Medford Police Department was contacted and, in conjunction with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, launched an investigation.

Authorities allege that between April 2007 and October 2011, Stanley Komins allegedly used various methods to embezzle from the little league. It is alleged that Stanley Komins would write checks, payable to himself, from the little league account, for which he was not authorized.

He would cash or deposit these checks in his personal bank account, allegedly embezzling $38,000.  In addition, between May 2009 and September 2011, it is alleged that Stanley Komins purchased items from BJ's Wholesale Club using checks drawn from the little league account even though some of the items purchased were not related to the operation of the league.

The investigation further revealed that Stephen Komins also allegedly cashed checks from the league for his own personal use.  It is alleged that between December 2007 and July 2009, Stephen Komins wrote checks to himself from the league account, cashing a total of approximately $4,000.

Around March 2011 to May 2011, Stephen Komins would write checks to a friend from the league account.  The friend would cash the checks and give the cash back to Stephen Komins.

Additionally, it is alleged that Stephen Komins would purchase personal items from BJ's Wholesale Club with checks drawn from the league account.  None of these items was for the operation of the little league.

It is also alleged that Stanley and Stephen Komins took cash proceeds from the West Medford Little League refreshment stand, which was operated by one of the Komins during games. 

The Komins were responsible for depositing the cash from the snack stand into the league’s bank account.  However, it is alleged that the deposits made into the account were inconsistent with the expected revenues from the snack stand.

Further, records revealed that deposits to Stanley Komins' personal bank account coincided with the seasonal operation of the refreshment stand and the currency deposited was consistent with snack stand transactions.

These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by Medford Police. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Lila Palmer.

This story was published Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, and updated the next day.