Ex-North East coach accused of stealing thousands from youth football program
NORTH EAST — A former football and wrestling coach in the North East School District is accused of stealing over $8,000 from a youth football organization in the borough and spending the money at places including stores, bars and a gambling website.
North East police on Friday filed felony counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities against Christopher L. Galloway, 41, of North East, accusing him of taking what police said appeared to be $8,632.58 from the accounts of the North East Football Foundation, a youth football league.
The Reading Police Department took Galloway into custody in Reading on Friday, and North East police brought him back to Erie County later that day, North East Police Chief Sean Lam said. North East District Judge Scott Hammer arraigned Galloway on the charges early Saturday morning and set bond at $20,000, which was posted on Saturday, according to court records.
Galloway is tentatively scheduled to appear before Hammer for his preliminary hearing on March 28. A lawyer for Galloway was not listed on his court docket sheet Monday.
What launched the investigation?
The investigation that led to the criminal charges against Galloway was launched on Dec. 1, when North East police said a man who ran the North East Football Foundation with Galloway reported suspected thefts from the foundation's bank accounts over several years, according to information in Galloway's criminal complaint.
The man who reported the suspected thefts told police he became suspicious when he requested funds for a banquet but was told there wasn't enough money in the accounts, the investigating officer wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
The man then checked bank statements and found over $10,000 worth of transactions that did not apply to the North East Football Foundation. When the man confronted Galloway, he said Galloway admitted to taking about $600 from the account but no more. The man then decided to report the matter to North East police, according to the affidavit.
Police said they reviewed bank statements and found numerous charges outside of the football season, and the man who reported the suspected thefts said there should be no reason for Galloway to use a bank card outside of the season or for expenses unrelated to the North East Football Foundation. The charges included purchases from Old Navy, Burlington Coat Factory, multiple bars, the Draft Kings sports betting website, wrestling gear, hotels in different states, car maintenance, heating bills, StubHub, The General car insurance and BW Stroup Waste Removal, the investigating officer wrote in the affidavit.
The officer wrote he then collected several receipts from stores mentioned in the bank statements and filed for multiple warrants. After receiving the information, the officer said he contacted Galloway and set up an interview with him.
Galloway originally admitted to taking about $600, according to police. When the investigating officer inquired about multiple other charges that appeared to be fraudulent, Galloway admitted to falling behind on his bills and taking money, "and things got out of hand, but he didn't realize the amount was so substantial," the officer wrote in the affidavit.
At the time North East police launched their investigation, Galloway was a coach for the North East School District's middle and high school wrestling programs and an assistant coach for the football team. Galloway resigned as coach for the wrestling programs on Dec. 22, according to the minutes of the Jan. 18 North East school board meeting.
Galloway is also no longer an assistant football coach, the district's athletic director said Monday. The head coach of the football team, Jovon Johnson, resigned from the position effective Jan. 6, according to the minutes from the Jan. 18 school board meeting.
More: 'It's time': North East football coach Jovon Johnson steps down after two seasons
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ex-North East coach accused of stealing from youth football program
