SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two men, one from San Diego and the other from Chula Vista, have admitted in federal court to running a fraudulent scheme that pocketed millions of dollars in donations intended for charity at events held at Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium.
Prosecutors say the pair created a sham nonprofit and used it to collect a share of concession sales at major sporting events while paying volunteers minimal cash and keeping the bulk of the money for themselves.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office of Southern California, Noly Hermoso Ilarde, 57, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Authorities say Ilarde and co-conspirator Martin Jose Rebollo Jr., 58, falsely represented themselves as leaders of the nonprofit “Chula Vista Fast Pitch,” which had previously supported youth softball programs but was no longer operating…