The former treasurer of Oswego Little League in upstate New York is accused of stealing money from the organization. She allegedly forged checks and paid off her own credit cards with unauthorized funds.
48-year-old Catherine Gunther was charged with third-degree grand larceny.
This latest Little League scandal dates back to 2022. Her alleged behavior lasted more than a year!
Where is Oswego, New York?
Located 40 miles north of Syracuse, you cannot go any further north from Oswego before you hit Canada. It is a small city with a total population of approximately 17,000.
Oswego was first established in 1722 as a British trading post. The economy today is based around manufacturing, goods and services.
Oswego Little League has been active since 1956, welcoming hundreds of young players each season. As far as I can tell, the league has between 10-15 teams on three different levels depending on the year. This year featured five teams in the majors division, four teams in Triple-A and seven teams in Double-A.
Did the Little League treasurer steal money?
There is still a very long legal process ahead, but the early charges levied against Catherine Gunter by Oswego police are not a good look. She is accused of stealing more than $7,000.
According to a felony complaint filed in Oswego City Court, Gunther made eight unauthorized withdrawals from the league’s Pathfinder Bank checking account between May 26, 2022 and Dec. 14, 2023. That money was then used to pay two separate credit cards.
- DISCOVER CREDIT CARD
- $810 on June 5, 2023
- $810 on June 23, 2023
- $3,000 on July 11, 2023
- $1,000 on Dec. 14, 2023
- GENESIS CREDIT CARD
- $755.70 on May 26, 2022
- $182.98 on May 31, 2022
- $399.37 on July 20, 2022
- $100 on May 22, 2023
Lt. Lorie Burger is not sure what Gunther spent the money on.
Oswego Little League President Timothy Kirwan discovered the unusual activity in early 2024 when a check did not clear. It was for about $25,000 for Musco Lighting.
“[Gunther] advised that it was a mistake and it would be cleared up,” he told Oswego County News Now. “After many months of hearing the same thing, the Oswego Little League Board required legal actions.”
A forensic audit of the ground’s financial records found the other unauthorized payments. It also found that Gunther allegedly forged Kirwan’s signatures on nine different checks.
She was eventually arrested on July 23, 2025. She will appear in front of a judge on Sept. 17.