Lawyer for fired sports authority controller questions latest allegation

The attorney for the fired controller of the Sports and Exhibition Authority is questioning allegations of a suspicious transaction that led the authority to fire his client.

The SEA announced Monday it had terminated Sharon J. Mink after an internal review found she made an unauthorized wire transfer of more than $21,000 in April 2018.

Mink, 43, of Plum is already facing criminal charges for stealing more than $300,000 from Research Underwriters, a firm based in Forest Hills where she worked as an accountant and controller from 2004 to 2017 before she took the job with the SEA.

“We remain bewildered by this latest allegation,” said Phil DiLucente, Mink’s attorney.

“For all I know, it could have been done simply in error or by someone else,” DiLucente said. “In a case like this, details are important. Wire transfers happen thousands of times a day, and sometimes there are errors. Where did this alleged transfer land?”

SEA officials didn’t immediately respond to requests for further comment.

DiLucente told the Tribune-Review that the SEA hasn’t confirmed it is severing ties with Mink, and it hasn’t provided them details about the wire transfer. Mink had been on unpaid leave from the SEA since she was charged July 24 in the case involving Research Underwriters.

The SEA is controlled by the city and county. The authority owns and oversees Heinz Field, PNC Park, PPG Paints Arena and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The authority forwarded the results of its internal audit to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, which is reviewing the material, a district attorney’s office spokesman said.

The wire transfer totaled $21,350 and was the only suspicious transaction found during the course of the SEA’s internal review of its books, the SEA statement said.

Mink is due in court Sept. 4 for a preliminary hearing on nine counts of forgery and one count each of theft and receiving stolen property stemming from her time as an accountant and controller at Research Underwriters, a firm based in Forest Hills.

She is accused of embezzling more than $319,000 between 2013 and 2017 to pay for cruises, airline tickets, hotels and merchandise from Louis Vuitton, Coach, Gucci and Tiffany, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

Mink was hired by the SEA in February 2017.

The SEA will support the investigation and prosecution of Mink related to the theft of SEA money, the organization said in its statement. It will also attempt to recoup any cash that was stolen. The SEA also carries insurance to protect itself from cases like this, it said.

The SEA is advertising for a new controller on its website.