Pater warned the Eagles that if he incarcerated Alsip, the man may be less inclined to pay back the restitution in a timely manner. Pater did not require Alsip to serve the maximum sentence of five years for the aggravated theft charge — a third-degree felony — due to his lack of a criminal record.
Joe Kirby, an attorney representing the Eagles, said the organization has filed a civil negligence suit as another way to possibly collect the stolen funds.
“The man will not live long enough to make the money back in his lifetime and I think everyone knows that,” Kirby said.
An investigation was launched by the city of Middletown after Alsip paid his outstanding city income tax from the Eagles account. It took five months to go through 1,100 check stubs before it was discovered Alsip had embezzled $277,763.68 since 2004, according to Middletown police Detective Steve Winters.
Alsip, who had worked as the Eagles state secretary since 2002, resigned his position March 8. He was arrested June 10 and entered his guilty plea July 6, according to court documents.
Defense attorney Robert James Qucsai III told the court Alsip had taken the money because “he put himself in a bad financial situation,” using the funds to pay for college tuition for his four children and to pay for several eye surgeries.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” Alsip said. “I’ve embarrassed myself, my family and my friends.”
Tom Ruskin, who was president of the Eagles during the time of the theft, said the money that was stolen was raised by members to help charitable organizations, police and fire departments and to fund disease research.
“What David Alsip did is despicable and a tragedy for more people than just the Eagles, but for people around the state,” he said.
About 15 Eagles members from across Ohio joined the crowd in the courtroom for the sentencing. While members said the stolen funds did not affect the charities they assist, it has affected the organization administratively.
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