LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas police arrested Steve Rodriguez Prado, the former president of Central Little League of Las Vegas, on allegations he stole $64,000 from the nonprofit youth organization. Families whose children play in the league are now speaking out, including the mom who first reported concerns to police.
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How the investigation began
Detectives began investigating after former league president Karla Leyva came forward with concerns about missing money and refunds owed to parents. Leyva said she had been accused of taking the funds.
“So those kind of comments at the beginning weren’t bothering me because I’m like, you know, the people that know me know that I wouldn’t do that,” Leyva said. “But the comments started getting heavier and heavier.”
Leyva said she later regained access to the league’s bank statements, where she began flagging unauthorized purchases.
“I remember the banker gave me a highlighter and I started highlighting everything that was not authorized,” Leyva said. “I had been in that bank account since 2019. So I know what purchases are valid for Little League. And the stuff that was on there was ridiculous… I remember the feeling because it was a nasty feeling in my stomach. Like I know it was bad. I didn’t know it was that bad.”
Allegations against Prado
Police allege Prado spent the stolen funds at an adult entertainment club, a casino, on rideshare expenses, and on erectile dysfunction pills. Leyva said Prado also prevented her son from playing in the league while she was questioning where the money had gone.
Leyva also said a background check was conducted on Prado but failed to reveal a prior robbery related charges from Riverside, California, in 2012.
Community reaction
A family member with a brother on the team identified only as Ana said she struggled to accept the allegations.
“At first, I didn’t really believe it. I was like, there’s no way. Like, who would… And out of all the leagues, it wasn’t even just that it was just kids,” Ana said. “It’s that it’s the kids from this community specifically… There’s leagues that have way more money, way more, way more inscriptions. This is a league that parents show up in their work uniforms to go watch their kids play.”
Ana said her younger brother, now 11, has played in the league since he was about five or six years old.
Athletics organization steps in
Leyva told FOX5 that when the Athletics organization learned the children might not be able to play due to the missing funds, it made a donation to ensure the season could continue.
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