East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA)
Outcome
Howard Solomon, executive director of the East Oakland Boxing Association, sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after embezzling $549,000 from the youth-serving nonprofit and evading $287,185 in taxes on the stolen funds, including diverting a $50,000 celebrity donation intended for youth programs.
Details
East Oakland Boxing Association / Howard Solomon — $549K Youth Nonprofit Embezzlement (2017–2021)
Outcome: Solomon sentenced September 24, 2025 to 27 months in federal prison, $549,132.74 restitution to EOBA, and $287,185 restitution to the IRS after pleading guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion.
Howard Solomon (also known as Solomon Howard) served as executive director of the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), a nonprofit serving youth in Oakland, California. Between 2017 and 2021, Solomon embezzled a minimum of $549,000 from the organization and failed to report the diverted funds as income, resulting in approximately $287,185 in evaded taxes.
Among the diverted funds was a $50,000 donation delivered during a December 2019 segment of the Ellen DeGeneres Show featuring Stephen and Ayesha Curry, which was intended for EOBA's youth programs. Solomon diverted the donation for personal use rather than applying it to the organization's mission.
Solomon pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025 and was sentenced September 24, 2025, commencing his sentence October 30, 2025. The case was prosecuted in the Northern District of California following an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Solomon was also required to serve three years of supervised release following incarceration.
EOBA serves underprivileged youth in one of Oakland's most disadvantaged communities. The diversion of nearly $550,000 over four years represents a substantial portion of the operating budget for a community youth boxing program, with direct impact on the services available to the youth the organization was created to serve.
Primary Source: Former Executive Director Who Embezzled Over $500,000 from Non-Profit Serving Oakland Youth Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison
How Crucible Prevents This
Crucible's donation-tracking controls would record designated gifts—such as the $50,000 Ellen DeGeneres Show donation—as restricted funds requiring documented expenditure for the stated purpose. Automatic reconciliation between restricted donations received and restricted-purpose expenditures would flag the diversion immediately. Executive compensation controls and mandatory board review of all disbursements to executive personnel would prevent Solomon-style self-dealing over a four-year period.
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