Source: Office of United States Attorneys
OAKLAND – Howard Solomon, 38, of Oakland, has been charged with mail fraud and tax evasion in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud his former employer, the East Oakland Boxing Association, a non-profit organization that provides internship, mentoring, programming, and services, including boxing lessons and coaching, to children in East Oakland. Solomon made an initial appearance in federal district court in Oakland this morning.
According to the criminal information filed on Feb. 26, 2025, Solomon was employed as the executive director of the East Oakland Boxing Association from approximately 2017 until April 2021. As the Executive Director, Solomon’s responsibilities included managing daily operations, soliciting contributions and fundraising, managing program and staff, overseeing budget and finances, and community outreach. Solomon was a signatory to the non-profit’s bank accounts and had unfettered access to its bank accounts and debit cards directly linked to those accounts.
During his tenure as executive director, Solomon allegedly engaged in a scheme to embezzle money and property from the non-profit to pay for items for personal use, including Amazon purchases, a vacation rental property, and a Ford Explorer. The information also charges Solomon with embezzling and depositing into a personal account a $50,000 donation made to the East Oakland Boxing Association in connection with a December 2019 appearance by Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for a segment known as “Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways,” during which the Currys delivered gifts and a $50,000 donation check to the non-profit.
The information also charges Solomon with owing more federal income tax than was declared due on his federal income tax returns and filing false and fraudulent income tax returns for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Solomon is charged with one count of mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and four counts of tax evasion under 26 U.S.C. § 7201. At his initial appearance this morning, Solomon agreed to waive indictment by a grand jury. He is next scheduled to appear on April 9, 2025, for a status hearing before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
A criminal information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions for the count of mail fraud and five years in prison and a fine of $100,000 for each count of tax evasion. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge of the Oakland Field Office Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Green is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Amala James. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.