Former Orangetheory Slabtown coach Ryan Tong has admitted in court that the money gym members thought they were sweating for during charity workouts did not always make it to the causes they were told about. Tong pleaded guilty on Friday to charges tied to donations made during those studio charity classes, and he is due to be sentenced next month at a hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6.
According to KGW, Tong admitted in Multnomah County court to felony counts that include aggravated theft, theft and computer crime. Investigators say at least $24,025 was taken. Prosecutors allege the conduct stretched across multiple years and involved donations that contributors believed would go to local nonprofits. The plea deal includes provisions for restitution to affected organizations and resolves the criminal charges brought by the Multnomah County District Attorney.
How the Classes and Payouts Were Supposed to Work
Tong organized monthly charity classes where members were encouraged to donate through mobile payment apps, with the pitch that their gifts would be matched by corporate partners, according to local reporting. As reported by Willamette Week, several nonprofits later told journalists they never saw the money that was raised in their names during those events. After questions surfaced, the Slabtown franchise owner pledged to make limited donations to some of the affected groups.
How Investigators Tracked the Missing Donations
Members started asking where the charity cash went, and those questions, combined with public payment records, helped push the investigation forward. Police turned their reports over to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, which worked with the Oregon Department of Justice’s Charitable Activities Section, according to local outlets. Investigators relied on financial records and subpoenas for Venmo and bank transactions to follow the route of money that had been sent through personal accounts. That paper trail formed the backbone of the charges that prosecutors accepted in the plea agreement.
Restitution and Who Is Owed
The Multnomah County DA’s office has identified about 25 nonprofits that will be eligible for restitution. Examples include the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, Cascade AIDS Project, Make‑A‑Wish, Rose Haven, Testicular Cancer Foundation, Pants Off Racing and Maui relief efforts, according to KGW. Tong’s plea requires that he repay victims, although prosecutors and the charities still have to work out how much each group will receive and how those payments will be structured. Studio members and nonprofit staff say the case underscores the risks of funneling donations through personal payment accounts instead of established charity channels.
What Happens in Court
Under Oregon law, aggravated theft in the first degree is a Class B felony, as detailed in the Oregon Revised Statutes, and separate computer crime statutes can carry additional penalties. Those laws frame the sentencing range the judge can consider. At the Feb. 6 hearing in Multnomah County, the court is expected to review the plea, go over restitution terms, impose a sentence and finalize any payment plan for victims.
Members’ Reaction
For many donors and classmates, the plea brought some closure after months of not knowing whether anyone would be held to account. One longtime member told Willamette Week that “something is better than nothing” after the franchise promised reimbursements. Many members now say they plan to give directly to charities through official links so organizations get clear proof and receipts for every donation.
