Dubuque Senior High School football coach charged with embezzling $47,000 from independent league

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – The head football coach of Dubuque Senior High School is accused of embezzling more than $47,000 from an account of the now defunct Dubuque Independent Football League (DIFL).

Darrell Moore, 39, of Dubuque, is charged with theft.

According to a criminal complaint, while Moore was president of the league, from about November 2020 until the end of the league in 2023, Moore transferred money from the DIFL’s account to his personal account and a business account with his name on it.

Moore also allegedly made electronic and cash withdrawals from the DIFL account, as well as charge-off purchases that did not appear to be related to league activities.

Records show the money was used to make deposits into Moore’s FanDuel account, and payments for things like his Roku account and purchases at grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants. He also allegedly used the money on golf courses, hotel reservations and other online purchases.

A total of $47,360.52 in DIFL funds appears to have been embezzled.

The money in the DIFL account was raised through annual fundraising and was intended to pay for field rental, game officials, equipment storage and to be distributed to affiliated programs: Little Eagles, Junior Rams and Junior Mustangs.

When affiliate programs asked Moore for payout checks that he was responsible for sending from the DIFL account, officials said Moore sent them checks that could not be paid due to insufficient funds.