Youth Football Prez Charged with Embezzlement

Tyrome Lee, who recently quit his post as president of the Orcutt Youth Football League amid colleagues’ questions over the league’s finances, was arrested on a felony embezzlement charge last week for allegedly stealing upwards of $20,000 from the league’s account. Lee, 35, was released from jail after posting his $25,000 bail, said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover.

Prior to Lee’s December 20 arrest, two league boardmembers filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office after an internal audit revealed fake invoices and suspect checks and cash withdrawals, which put the account $20,000 shorter than it should have been. Hoover said that once the department secured a search warrant, Lee was stopped for driving his BMW with a suspended license. Following the traffic stop, Lee agreed to go to the station to answer questions about the embezzlement allegations, after which he was arrested.

Hoover added that the warrant also resulted in the seizure of electronic devices and two firearms. The guns could tack on another charge for Lee, as he is a convicted felon and isn’t allowed to own weapons.