Former Oakland Nonprofit Head Must Repay Embezzled $500K, Serve at Least 2 Years, Judge Says

A former Oakland nonprofit executive who pocketed a $50,000 donation from Steph Curry intended for youth enrichment programs will have to repay the sum and fulfill a more than two-year prison sentence, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

According to federal investigators, Howard Solomon embezzled more than half a million dollars from the East Oakland Boxing Association, which provides after-school and summer tutoring, literacy and enrichment programming for the neighborhood’s families, while he worked as its executive director from 2017 to 2021.

He was charged with mail fraud and tax evasion in connection to the scheme in February, after federal investigators found evidence that he misrepresented the profits on his taxes for four years.

“Mr. Solomon’s embezzlement scheme not only victimized the East Oakland Boxing Association, but also deprived low-income, high-risk children in East Oakland of the internships, mentoring, and boxing programs the organization offers,” IRS criminal investigation agent Linda Nguyen said in a statement.

Solomon stole at least $549,000 from EOBA over his tenure, which he used to pay for Amazon orders, a vacation rental property and a Ford Explorer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Among the stolen funds was a high-profile donation from Steph and Ayesha Curry, aired on Ellen DeGeneres’ Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways in 2019.

As part of the show, the Currys delivered a truckload of boxing equipment, computers and gifts to the gym. At the end of the episode, the celebrity couple presented Solomon with a $50,000 donation.

“Hopefully, it goes a long way, man,” Curry told Solomon.

Prosecutors alleged in a February criminal complaint that Solomon deposited the whole donation into his personal bank account.

They said Solomon used EOBA money to buy a Ford Explorer in 2017, later trading it in for a Cadillac Escalade, which he registered in his own name.

He was also accused of embezzling money from EOBA accounts to purchase a rental property for personal use, later claiming it as a business expense.

Prosecutors calculated that, throughout his tenure, Solomon spent more than $100,000 on debit cards linked to the nonprofit to place personal Amazon orders, categorizing them as “direct program expenses,” “program supplies” or “cleaning supplies.”

He was charged with one count of mail fraud and four counts of tax evasion for failing to report the stolen funds as profits between 2018 and 2021.

In April, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and one count of tax evasion.

He was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months in federal prison, and will be required to pay more than $549,000 and $287,000 in restitution to EOBA and the IRS, respectively.