Local man arrested and charged with theft of funds connected to youth softball team’s fundraisers
05/08/2024 06:55PM ● By Betsy Brewer BrantnerJames Rudolph Allen, 50, and a resident of Cochranville, was taken into custody and processed by Oxford police officer Shakira Greer on April 24. He was arrested at an Oxford Area High School sporting event and charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and receiving stolen property.
Allen was transported to the Oxford Police Department for processing before being taken by Constables to Chester County Prison.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled at the District Court in Oxford for May 7. Allen previously operated a business, the Soap Bucket, in Oxford. He currently resides in Cochranville.
The arrest followed over two years of investigation beginning in April 2022 when the Oxford Police were contacted in reference to several victims who stated that funds that they contributed to a youth softball team had not been used for their intended purpose. The person in charge of the funds, James “Rudy” Allen, was expected to purchase equipment and pay certain fees that were required for the team’s operation. Allen was also provided donations in the form of cash, checks, Venmo and other prizes during a fundraiser at the Oxford Redmen’s Hall, 114 Brick Road, in September of 2021 and March of 2022, where all proceeds were to benefit the youth softball team.
A thorough investigation was completed and the result of that investigation led law enforcement officials to allege that Allen had improperly used over $6,000 in funds that had been allocated directly for the youth softball team.
According to Detective Adam Weaver, “While there at Chester County Prison, he was arraigned by video and released on a $20,000 unsecured bail.”
Weaver stressed, “We attempted to interview him multiple times throughout this investigation. Allen was also provided a letter of demand from the victims in April 2022, which he did not respond to.”
Weaver said, “Although the investigation started with complaints from 6 or 7 people, complaints continue to come forth since news of his arrest has been published. This is an ongoing investigation. We ask anyone who has more information to contact the Oxford Police Department at 610-268-3171.”
A number of attempts were made to seek comments from Allen for this story.