The former president of a little league baseball club in Las Vegas is accused of raiding the club’s coffers and spending some of the money at a strip club, a casino, on erectile dysfunction medication and other personal expenses, police said.
Steve Rodriguez Prado, 38, of Henderson, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of theft and forgery. He has since been released from the Clark County Detention Center after posting bond.
A Metropolitan Police Department arrest report for Prado states police were contacted by the Central Little League of Las Vegas in March. A representative expressed concerns that Prado, as president of the league, was misusing money.
Police said they investigated and found that Prado spent more than $64,000 from the league in less than five months. Of that amount, some $55,724 was taken via unauthorized Zelle transactions and another $8,627 was spent on miscellaneous purchases.
Some of the miscellaneous charges to the league included payments to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, a video game platform and Geico insurance, the report stated. On Jan. 20, the league was charged $1,351 for a bill at the Las Toxicas strip club. This included an $800 bottle of Don Julio 1942, a bucket of Modelo, a privacy fee gratuity and tip, police said.
From January to March, there were more than 70 transactions billed to the league for Uber, Lyft, Uber Eats, and for electric vehicle charging, the report stated. Another purchase was made for a Spirit Airlines ticket.
On Feb. 9, there were six transactions using league money at the Bellagio Baccara bar totaling $1,284, according to the report. On Feb. 14, there were five transactions at Caesars sports book totaling $258. That same day there was a purchase at a cocktail lounge.
Police alleged Prado also used league money to purchase $294 in Blue Chew.
“Blue Chew is an erectile dysfunction medication and is not intended for juvenile consumption,” police wrote.
Police said Prado also misled the league’s board of directors about the league’s bank account.
“Prior to Prado’s tenure ending as president of the Central Little League of Las Vegas, he provided Wells Fargo bank statements to the board,” police wrote in the report. “Said bank statements were altered from their original form which was confirmed through grand jury subpoenas.”
Police said Prado was previously convicted of robbery, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit robbery in California in 2012. When arrested, Prado told police the accusations were “blown out of proportion” before declining to speak further with investigators.
An attempt to contact Prado’s defense attorney early Tuesday was unsuccessful. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 30.
Contact Glenn Puit at gpuit@reviewjournal.com.
