CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice announced September 24 that a California man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for stealing at least $549,000 from his former employer, the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA).
Howard Solomon, also known as Solomon Howard, 38, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025, to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion for tax year 2018.
From 2017 to 2021, Solomon served as Executive Director of EOBA, a nonprofit offering after-school programs, tutoring, boxing, and internships for East Oakland youth.
Solomon stole $549,000 from EOBA, using donations for personal expenses such as a vacation rental and a Ford Explorer.
“Howard Solomon used his position of trust to steal from kids and working families and threatened the very existence of an organization that is and must remain an important part of the East Oakland community,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
Failed to report $50,000 donation from Ellen DeGeneres
Among the misappropriated funds was a $50,000 donation that Solomon diverted into a personal account.
The $50,000 came from a 2019 Ellen DeGeneres Show segment featuring Stephen and Ayesha Curry, who presented the donation to EOBA.
Solomon failed to report the embezzled funds as income and falsely claimed business losses on his 2017–2021 tax filings. He evaded approximately $287,000 in taxes.
Owes EOBA and the IRS
Solomon was ordered to pay $549,132 to EOBA and $287,185 to the IRS. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers also imposed three years of supervised release. Solomon must begin serving his sentence on Oct. 30, 2025.
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