The longtime treasurer of Imperial Beach Little League pleaded not guilty this week to charges that she siphoned roughly $97,000 from the youth baseball organization's accounts, a theft that nearly wiped out the league just weeks before its 2026 season began. Reshae Marie Cuevas, 39, entered her plea to 16 felony counts of grand theft and embezzlement in San Diego Downtown Superior Court.
According to NBC 7 San Diego, Cuevas was arrested following an investigation into missing league funds and faces more than seven years in prison if convicted on all counts. Deputy District Attorney Huy Betz told the station that Cuevas victimized the Imperial Beach community, stealing money that was intended for children who wanted to play baseball. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office says the case began after league president Zach Garland reported suspected embezzlement on February 24, having discovered unauthorized debit card activity dating back to January 1, 2025.
A Trusted Volunteer Accused
Cuevas, described as a longtime treasurer of the league, was arrested last Tuesday on a warrant and booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee on eight felony counts of grand theft and eight felony counts of embezzlement, per the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. Garland told NBC 7 he discovered nearly $100,000 missing from the league's accounts, and he said the arrest brought a sense of relief after the discovery. Imperial Beach Little League safety officer Kelsa Smith told 10News that board members had worked alongside Cuevas for three years and considered her a personal friend before her removal from the board once the missing funds surfaced.
Cuevas's civic involvement extended beyond the ballfield. Imperial Beach City Council public records show she was an active municipal volunteer who formally presented details of community events, including the local Halloween Bike Parade, to city council members back in October 2023.
A Season Nearly Lost
The financial hole was staggering relative to the league's size. Garland told ABC 10News that running Imperial Beach Little League, which serves roughly 300 players, costs between $60,000 and $70,000 a year, and the alleged theft left only about $1,600 in the league's account shortly before the season started. Missing funds spanned accounts from 2025 to 2026, according to reporting by NBC 7 San Diego.
Local businesses stepped in to keep the season alive. The Stars and Stripes gas station donated $10,000, and The Bullpen also provided financial support, per ABC 10News. NBC 7 San Diego additionally reported that The Forum and local resident Ashley Ortega contributed significant financial support to the league. Garland said the donated money helped the league maintain its fields and provide equipment for players, and the community effort ensured that kids did not miss their season or notice anything was wrong. Imperial Beach Little League ultimately completed its 2026 baseball season without interruption.
Legal Exposure and What Comes Next
Under California Penal Code Sections 487 and 504, grand theft and embezzlement of funds exceeding $950 are wobbler offenses that can be charged as felonies, each punishable by 16 months, two years, or three years in prison, according to the Shouse Law Group. Cuevas is scheduled to return to court at the end of September, and the case remains pending as she has denied all charges.
Federal tax filings compiled by ProPublica confirm Imperial Beach Little League is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose board members, including the treasurer role Cuevas held, serve as uncompensated volunteers. That volunteer structure is common across youth sports leagues nationally. As VICE News has reported, Little League International charters local chapters as independent corporate entities, leaving individual volunteer boards responsible for their own bank accounts and debit card controls rather than receiving direct financial auditing from national headquarters. Whether Imperial Beach Little League or Little League International will adopt stricter dual-authorization controls on league finances going forward remains an open question as the criminal case proceeds.
