Former head of charity’s LV office arrested over funds

Jace Radke

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 9:04 a.m.

A yearlong investigation involving $400,000 in missing American Cancer Society funds concluded Thursday with the arrest of the former head of the charity's Las Vegas office.

Metro Police arrested Willette Ballard on charges that she used money raised during a charity golf tournament for her own use and to pay personal credit bills.

Ballard, who served as Regional Director of the American Cancer Society's Las Vegas operation from 1997 to 1999, was fired in July of 1999, charity spokeswoman Chris Uithoven said.

"In August of 1999 we hired an investigator to look into any alleged improprieties against Ms. Ballard," Uithoven said. "We then turned the case over to Metro Police for any court action."

Police say Ballard took money from bank accounts the charity set up for its annual Ross Miller Golf Classic in Las Vegas. The tournament is conducted by former Gov. Bob Miller in honor of his father, Ross Miller, who died of cancer at 67 in 1975.

The tournament has raised more than $1 million for cancer research over the next 25 years.

Uithoven said that although Ballard was not directly in charge of the tournament, she did have access to the bank accounts.

"She was responsible for all operations in Las Vegas," Uithoven said.

The charity did not incur a loss, as the funds in question were insured, Uithoven said.