Dal Smilie is certainly not smiling this week. The Former American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Chairman was sentenced yesterday for embezzling $100,000 in fraudulent travel reimbursement claims to the not-for-profit organization. Smilie received a sentence of eight months in prison, and two years probation after pleading guilty for his misappropriation of organization founds over the course of years, ending in 2007. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.
Speaking to Judge Martin in his Fairfield County, Ohio courtroom before his sentencing, Smilie expressed remorse for his actions, “I’ve got much to apologize for, and many people to apologize to, including AMA members, AMA staff, my fellow board members and volunteers. I’ve let them down.”
Continuing with his statement, Smilie accepted responsibility for the crimes he committed while an AMA Board Member. “I overstated travel claims, I co-mingled funds. That’s misappropriation. That’s theft. That’s a breach of trust, and I’m sorry for that. I was an honorable person, and I kind of slid into this. I don’t have good excuses.”
Fairfield County Assistant Prosecutor Gregg Marx was pleased with the sentencing of the case, and said that the punishment was appropriate for the crime, especially since Smilie paid restitution to the AMA for the money in question. “We’re very pleased with the resolution of this case,” said Marx.
AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman echoed the sentiments of Marx, and added the follow, “on behalf of the members of the American Motorcyclist Association, we are satisfied that justice has been served, and we are glad to put this matter behind us.”
Smilie was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004, and is the longest server AMA Director in the organization’s history. We have a feeling after this week though that there might be a new distinction next to Smilie’s list of accomplishments at the AMA.
Source: AMA
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