Covington, Ky. —Steven R. Sparks, 36, of Florence, Ky. was sentenced today to 13 months in prison by United States District Court Judge David. L. Bunning for committing wire fraud that allowed him to steal thousands of dollars from a nonprofit organization.

Sparks admitted during his guilty plea in January that between 2002 and 2006, while he was the treasurer of a nonprofit civic organization, he diverted approximately $325,000 for his personal use. As treasurer of the Villa Hills Civic Club, he was able to conceal his theft by making false entries in the club’s books and by transferring funds between his account and the club’s account via wire transfer. Sparks paid back a large portion of the fund prior to the theft being uncovered, but still owed more than $100,000 in restitution at the time of the arraignment. He did manage to pay the outstanding restitution prior to sentencing.

According to the facts of the plea agreement, because Sparks was the treasurer, he was authorized to write checks on the club’s bank accounts at Huntington Bank and to transfer funds to and from the Huntington accounts. Sparks defrauded the Club by writing checks either to himself or to his business that were drawn on the club’s Huntington checking accounts. In order to conceal the fraud, Sparks altered bank statements submitted to the Club’s board of directors and transferred funds to and from accounts.

Under federal law, Sparks must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years

James A. Zerhusen, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Larry R. Willis, Acting Special Agent in Charge (FBI) made the announcement today after the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Villa Hills Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin G. Dusing.

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