You Ask. We Investigate.
Parents frustrated with Diversity Youth Sports
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Parents are going to bat against a youth sports league they say is taking their money without their permission. When they couldn't get answers from the company they turned to Action News for help.
"He loves baseball," explained Sheryl Cinelli.
Sheryl's 7-year- old son wanted nothing more than to join a baseball team. So mom looked online and found Diversity Youth Sports. She signed him up this past spring.
"He played March through the beginning of June," said Sheryl.
Sheryl paid the $50 fee on March 26. But months after the bats were put away, she noticed something was amiss with her bank account.
"It was sometime end of June I happened to be checking my bank statement and noticed that there was a charge of $50 from DYS sports again," said Sheryl.
Sheryl called DYS and got this email saying there was an error in processing her original charge from spring, so the computer was trying to put it through again.
When they realized the charge had gone through, they apologized, refunded the money to her bank and said they were removing her account. But two weeks later, it was deja vu all over again.
"I had looked at my bank account and I saw that there was a $50 charge pending from DYS. I'm like hmmm it's happening again," said Sheryl.
She emailed them but this time got no response. Her phone messages to the company's Las Vegas office went unanswered. Sheryl heard from several of her son's teammates who were going through the same thing,
"I am sure we're not the only three [who] have had money taken out unauthorized," said Sheryl.
"It's very frustrating especially since we're trying to do something for our child," explained Angel Stoker.
Sheryl and Angel don't know each other but much like Sheryl, Angel had money taken out of her account by DYS, unauthorized.
"I happened to be looking on line at my bank statement and I saw a charge for $90 from DYS," said Angel.
That charge went through on July 9, well after her daughter's spring basketball season with DYS ended. Angel paid for the season in March, which is why she couldn't understand where the $90 charge was coming from. Unable to get anyone from DYS on the phone, Angel wrote on their Facebook wall.
"Another parent sent me a private message on Facebook and said that she had been hit," said Angel.
Both moms turned to Action News for answers and as we were doing our investigation, so did several other parents. All were hit by DYS with unauthorized charges. We left several messages with DYS but our calls were never returned.
We went knocking on their door at their office on Sahara near Decatur. No one answered but we did get ahold of the building manager. She told us that DYS is being served with a five day eviction notice. Beyond that, she couldn't say much more.
"My big fear is how many parents didn't check their accounts last month or this month's credit card statements haven't come up yet,' said Sheryl.
Action News did some digging and learned DYS does have an active business license with the state. The address listed for the registered agent comes to back a UPS store on Maryland near Silverado Ranch.
According to a statement on their website, DYS cancelled their summer season in part because of concerns about the weather and because they say parents on the remaining teams refused to help with coordination and coaching. The website also says their office will be closed all summer.
"Everyone is supposed to wait until September 3," said Sheryl.
That's when the website memo says their office will reopen. But Sheryl and Angel aren't waiting until then. They've changed their bank account numbers to prevent DYS from taking any more of their money.
"When I noticed that other parents had been also charged I wanted to get the word out," said Angel.
Action News checked with the state's Attorney General office. They haven't had any complaints against DYS.
We also checked with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and they say you should file a report with your bank if you feel you've had an unauthorized charge.
Action News Contact 13 is going to stay in touch with these parents and keep trying to find the folks behind DYS.
Did you sign up with DYS? Did you have charges taken out unauthorized? If so, we want to hear from you. Send an email to 13investigates@ktnv.com be sure to include your phone number.








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