Operating between 2017 and 2021, Solomon leveraged his administrative authority to secretly transfer organizational donations into his private business and personal accounts. Prosecutors revealed that the diverted money paid for retail Amazon orders, a vacation rental, and a personal Ford Explorer instead of funding local youth services. In addition to serving a 27-month federal prison sentence, Solomon has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution to both the nonprofit and the Internal Revenue Service.
Key points
Solomon pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion charges after diverting fund…: Solomon pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion charges after diverting funds between 2017 and 2021.
Stolen charitable funds were spent on personal expenses like a Ford Explorer, Amazon purc…: Stolen charitable funds were spent on personal expenses like a Ford Explorer, Amazon purchases, and a vacation rental.
The embezzlement directly harmed low-income families in East Oakland by stripping funding…: The embezzlement directly harmed low-income families in East Oakland by stripping funding from youth boxing and tutoring programs.
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A former executive director of a youth boxing charity in Oakland, California, diverted a $50,000 donation presented during Stephen Curry and
Ayesha Curry's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show into his personal bank account. Howard Solomon, also known as Solomon Howard, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison in September 2025 after pleading guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. The donation was made to the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) by a television studio in connection with a December 2019 episode featuring the Currys on Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways. Prosecutors said Solomon embezzled at least $549,000 from the organisation between 2017 and 2021, using charitable funds for personal expenses. He was also ordered to repay the charity and the Internal Revenue Service.
How the $50,000 donation was diverted
According to the US Department of Justice, EOBA received the $50,000 donation in October 2019. The contribution was connected to the Currys' appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December that year, during a segment called Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways.
During the segment, Stephen and Ayesha Curry delivered…
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