Questions Still Abound in Arena Football League Players Union Embezzlement Accusations

Federal investigation incidentally confirmed after surreal statement from AFLPU

By Brice Burge
Head of Management 

A US Department of Labor investigation is confirmed while allegations against an Arena Football League Players Union executive has gained traction overnight, but there are more questions than answers in the bizarre chain of events.
AFLPU Executive Director Ivan F. Soto is alleged to embezzle $40,000 from the players union. No time period was given for when the funds were allegedly repurposed.
His accuser is Drew Farrand, a realtor from the Indianapolis suburb Carmel. Farrand also accused the Arena Football League of knowing about the alleged embezzlement and that they tried to “keep the embezzlement quiet until after expansion”.
Farrand’s three-tweet thread had only 19 likes and 20 retweets, but received hundreds of reactions when shared on Facebook, prompting reaction from the organizations involved.

First was the AFL, who responded with a statement on Twitter.
“The Arena Football League is not, and has not, been aware of any such conduct, and has no information related to the allegations. The matter is between the players and the AFLPU, and the League will have no further comment” the statement said.

Official statement from the Arena Football League: pic.twitter.com/pjQUfY4HIt

— Arena Football League (@AFLarenaball) December 5, 2018

The AFLPU also responded, with a statement first shared by ArenaFan.com’s Facebook page.
“The AFLPU has not embezzled funds from its players. Since its re-birth in 2012, the AFLPU has spent its limited resources in pursuit of better wages, hours, and working conditions for its players,” the AFLPU said.
However, the AFLPU statement ended with a refusal for further comment until a United States Department of Labor review is completed.

The AFLPU statement is the first and only time the US Department of Labor or any government agency is confirmed to be involved in these allegations. Farrand alluded to it by tweeting Soto was on unpaid leave during an investigation, but did not give any further details into who was conducting the investigation.
According to the AFLPU constitution, the executive director is the principal administrative officer of the union. This includes day-to-day affairs, including the authority to sign and execute any necessary paperwork in the course of the AFLPU's regular business, hire and direct any additional staff and appoint interim executive officers. The AFLPU Board of Representatives may also authorize the executive director to do other tasks.
The executive director is able to voice their opinion as part of the executive committee, but not vote on issues. To be qualified for the position, a person may not be under contract of any team, whether as a player, staff member or coaching staff. Employment negations for the executive director is decided by the AFLPU executive committee.
Soto was reelected to the position in 2018, according the AFLPU website.
In addition to his role with the AFLPU, Soto is a realtor in North Carolina. He has put all of his social media accounts on private since the allegations were made.
Farrand’s Twitter bio describes him as an AFL insider, but the only tweets on his profile about the AFL are directly related to the embezzlement allegations. He doesn’t follow any indoor football teams, leagues, coaches or players either. Farrand also has no journalistic experience; his LinkedIn profile cites two years of Communications at Ball State before three years of General Studies at Indiana University.
Farrand initially posted that the AFLPU as an organization had embezzled $100,000 from the players as a whole, citing “sources”. He also asked to be attributed for the claim while mentioning Steven Albritton, a sports anchor at ABC affiliate KMBC in Kansas City. Albritton is originally from Carmel.

My sources telling me the @AFLarenaball players union embezzled $100,000 from the players. Please credit me for first reporting this. @StevenAlbritton

— Drew Farrand (@drewfarrand) December 4, 2018

He later amended his claim the next day by saying “multiple sources confirmed” it was just Soto at fault. The amount was also lowered to $40,000.
​The tweet maintained that the AFL was aware of the alleged embezzlement, but that a rival league found out.

Multiple sources have confirmed Ivan Soto of the AFLPU is under investigation for embezzling $40,000 in 2013-2014. @AFLarenaball intended to keep it quiet until after expansion, but a rival league found out. Hearing former AFL owner Bouchey found out about embezzlement.

— Drew Farrand (@drewfarrand) December 4, 2018

Jeff Bouchy is the owner of the Jacksonville Sharks and one of the founding members of the National Arena League. He is the only person besides Soto to be named in Farrand’s tweets.
“I have no time (nor do I care) to police the AFL or it’s Union,” Bouchy said in a tweet. “Focused 100% on building the NAL, the Sharks and expansion.”
Bouchey directed Arena Football Talk to this tweet in response to an email request for comment on the situation.
Arena Football Talk has left telephone messages with Soto and Farrand. A phone message was also left with AFLPU Executive President James Baron. None have responded.