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Steal your spirit: Woman steals money in school boosters scam
Steal your spirit: Woman steals money in school boosters scam
CHARLOTTE. Nc. (WITI) — A group of businesses thought they were promoting themselves and helping area schools. Instead, they ended up being part of a million dollar scam.
How can products like cups, pom poms, mini footballs and basketballs be at the heart of a financial scam?
Con artist pretended to sell items like small footballs to local businesses to steal their money.
"The owner of the business would solicit local doctors, orthodontists, dentists, to see if they want to sponsor local schools by putting their advertisement on the products and the product would be shipped to school after they paid," explained U.S. Postal Inspector Christopher Davis.
Mimi Clark was the owner of Spirit Boosters and, before that, American Boosters.
"In reality, the owner never really shipped the product. She just kept the money — she spent it on herself," Davis said.
More than $1 million worth of products were purchased through Clark's two companies. U.S. Postal Inspectors say the scam lasted more than three years and Clark thought it was foolproof.
"If the doctors or the small business never called the schools to make sure their product was delivered — they would never know," according to Davis.
Eventually, Clark was caught. She was sentenced to just under 3 years in jail and ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution.
Mimi Clark was sentenced to just under 3 years in prison and ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution.
Before you purchases a product, it's important to research a company.
"Do some follow-up questions, call the school. If you're sponsoring the school — go to that function. Just make sure you get what you're paying for." Davis advised.