Ex-Rockford radio chief must repay $11,730

ROCKFORD - The former volunteer manager of Rockford's nonprofit WRKD-FMLP radio station has been charged with mishandling station funds and must repay $11,730 in restitution to the village, according to a state audit released on Tuesday.

Former manager James Crocker was relieved of his duties last year after revealing to village council members that he had opened his own checking account to pay for station expenses. Checks were supposed to have gone through a village checking account, fiscal officer Lisa Kuhn has said.

Bank records show Crocker made 93 purchases from the village's bank account for the station totaling $3,529 between May 12, 2014, and Jan. 12, 2018, that were unrelated to the station's operation. These purchases included food, gas, liquid nicotine inhalant and payment to a stock transfer company.

Crocker reportedly made 73 transactions totaling $3,002 that lacked supporting documentation. Officials could not reasonably determine, based on the goods and services provided, if the purchases were for a public purpose, the audit stated.

Crocker also reportedly used the same account to write 11 checks totaling $1,220 to himself, his wife and their business, Crocker Media Group LLC, without council authorization.

From July 2015 to January 2018, Crocker wrote five checks totaling $555 from his personal accounts, which were issued to and deposited into the village's WRKD account. The auditor's office accepted these deposits as partial restitution against the finding for recovery.

State Auditor Public Information Officer Jake Gordon said Crocker has been notified of the money he owes. He could face charges if he does not pay full restitution within 120 days. Money collected will be placed into the radio station line item as part of the village's general fund, Kuhn said.

Crocker first approached council members in 2012, saying he would like to run a low-power, nonprofit FM radio station if the village would hold the Federal Communication Commission license. Village solicitor Judy Koesters has said Crocker was given permission to manage the radio station under his own business, but he still had to answer to village officials because they hold the license.

Since Crocker has been relieved of his duties, the station has been managed by four officers, president Steve Gehle, vice president Todd Henkle, secretary Kevin Browning and Chris Rasbach. They also serve as station board members with Gehle being the village council representative.

The officers have written a list of bylaws that has been approved by council. The board is in charge of reviewing and approving all purchases for the station, including bartering items and trades, according to the bylaws.

"It's going good," Gehle said of the station's current status. "All unpaid bills have been settled. We've got a good system now and are looking to cover local sports."

WRKD broadcasts at 101.3 FM.