Former Chairman of the Vanderburgh Co. Commission. accused of fraud

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – The former chairman of the Vanderburgh County Commission is facing several fraud charges.

Evansville Police say 45-year-old Ben Shoulders reported in October 2023 that he discovered several fraudulent eBay purchases on his bank statement.

They say Shoulders also demanded reimbursement from the bank for the fraudulent charges.

Police say the reported fraud occurred on Shoulder’s campaign account, which is listed as “Shoulders For Commissioner.”

Officers say a lengthy and in-depth investigation then began.

They say an investigation of ‘Shoulders For Commissioner’s’ bank account revealed several discrepancies, including documented money donated to local nonprofits, but investigators discovered the donations never occurred.

Police say sports memorabilia purchased with the campaign account and allegedly not made by Schouders have been documented by eBay as being shipped to Schouder’s address.

They say checks were also moved from the campaign account to a separate account opened by Shoulders.

Detectives say an investigation revealed that approximately $55,000 in funds from the Shoulders For Commissioner account had been misused by Shoulders.

Shoulders has been arrested and charged with attempted fraud on a financial institution, two counts of filing a fraudulent election report and several other crimes.