The Rise and Fall of Dan Doyle
GoLocalProv News Team
The Rise and Fall of Dan Doyle
Now, after a long and drawn out embezzlement trial that ended in a jury finding Doyle guilty on eighteen counts of fraud and embezzlement, it all ended Monday in a courtroom in South County.
The jury at Washington County Superior Court convicted Doyle of using more than $1 million of Institute funds for his own personal expenses, thirty years after Doyle started the international sports program that once saw thousands of youth gather at URI from around the world and top dignitaries from President Clinton to Colin Powell headline its events.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Our folks raised us around four core values: family, religion, education and travel. My brother and I shared a bedroom with my parents for my first five years of life. My aunt and uncle lived on the third floor. Another uncle lived with us. We weren't rich in wealth but we were rich in family. Our lives revolved around St. Peter's Church in Worcester. From grammar school, to being altar boys, singing in the choir, school dances, CYO and playing basketball for the NE School Boys Champs two years in a row. We knew who we were. We were centered," said Mike Doyle, Dan's brother and one of Rhode Islands top political and advertising business leaders.
SLIDES: See the Rise and Fall of Dan Doyle BELOW
“Convictions always break my heart. I never met Dan Doyle. I don’t know his story, much less the backstory of this scandal. But a verdict of guilt on all counts feeds our shared skepticism of those who seek to do good,” said historian Phil West, who was the head of Common Cause RI for eighteen years before he wrote “Secrets & Scandals: Reforming Rhode Island, 1986-2006.”
“Too often we’ve seen visionaries begin with great promise, only to slide into self-serving behavior that ultimately betrays the original vision,” said West. “We wonder how a nonprofit with such an inspiring purpose collapsed—leaving an empty shell at URI, unrecoverable public funds, and deep disillusionment.”
But, Doyle's brother says the work of (Dan) Doyle and the Institute was globally important, "We all strove to meet our parents expectations. No one more so than Dan. He didn't merely theorize about world peace. He acted positively to make it happen. In so doing, he shone a very bright and positive light on Rhode Island, while sacrificing a family fortune. There is no doubt that my parents look down on Dan with extraordinary pride. He has exceeded all of our expectations and deserved much better in being judged."
According to the office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, the State “proved that Doyle embezzled approximately $750,000 in unauthorized salary payments and loan payments from 2005 through 2011. In addition, the State proved that Doyle embezzled nearly $150,000 by paying the monthly balance on his personal American Express card from the Institute's accounts for unauthorized purchases including cosmetic eye surgery, Starbucks, restaurant and bar bills, clothing, groceries, and other items.”
Further, the State proved that Doyle embezzled approximately $100,000 when he made tuition payments from the Institute accounts to Kingswood Oxford School and Oberlin College for his daughter, as well a $22,000 payment from the Institute accounts to fulfill a $50,000 personal pledge Doyle made to Bates College.
In addition, the State proved that Doyle embezzled approximately $120,000 of Institute funds when he paid for items from the Institute account associated with his two for-profit businesses – the Hall of Fame Press and summer camps.
*This case straddles the border between private and public. Dan Doyle apparently used private philanthropy and public funds in ways none of his donors expected. That would have been harder if the legislature had established accountability for community service grants decades ago, rather than in 2016. I want to believe that reforms begun in response to recent scandals will deter future corruption," said West.
"Rhode Island is not alone in this struggle. Corruption in governments and institutions remains common around the globe. Human nature will never be pure, but citizens hold leaders accountable for conflicts of interest. Our tiny state has made great strides—most recently with 77.7 per cent approval of the 2016 Ethics Amendment, which restores Ethics Commission jurisdiction over the General Assembly," said West. "I hope Rhode Islanders will read the sad story of this scandal and resolve to strengthen honest, accountable government."
Rise and Fall of Dan Doyle
Early Years
Doyle’s Sports Accolades
A graduate of Bates College, Doyle had an illustrious sports pedigree, having served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Brown, and head coach at Trinity College, where he earned New England Coach the Year in his last season coaching. In addition he served as the Irish National Coach and was one of the promoters of boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.
1986
Institute Founding
According the IIS website, Doyle founded the international sport organization on July 1, 1986. During Doyle’s trial in Rhode Island, much was made of the first (and alleged “only”) board meeting having taken place at the Trump Towers in New York City.
In the early years Doyle attracted top level national support including U.S. Senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Bill Cohen (R-ME) as well as Congressman and baseball great Jim Bunning.
1997
Genesis and Growth of the Games
After starting the Belfast United program in Northern Ireland, the IIS launched its first World Scholar Athlete Games at URI in 1993. A Rhode Island Scholar-Athlete Games is launched in 1995, and a second World Scholar Athlete Games is held at URI in 1997, followed by a third in 2001.
Institute's Own HQ
Building the Center on the URI Campus
The IIS got a grant from the State of Rhode Island to build a new building for a Center for Sports Leadership at URI.
The building -- and lack of construction progress -- would prove to be the tipping point in the fall of Doyle.
2008
Global Leaders
Former President Bill Clinton headlined the Fourth World Scholar Athlete Games in 2006, where former Senator George Mitchell gave an address. In 2008, the U.S. World Scholar Athlete Games featured Gen. Colin Powell as keynote.
“Dan Doyle and his team are on a historic mission toward world peace.”
- General Colin Powell, during his Keynote Address at the 2008 United States Scholar-Athlete Games
2008
Global Model
“The remarkable work the Institute for International Sport is doing, and Dan Doyle is spearheading, is very important for the participants and for the societies in which they live. I know of no organization that does more to help young people on a worldwide basis than the Institute for International Sport.”
- U. S. Senator and Former Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME), during his Launch Address at the 2008 United States Scholar-Athlete Games
2011
Financial Troubles Begin to Emerge
The fifth World Scholar Athlete Games are moved to the University of Hartford in 2011. A whistleblower on the URI campus questions why the new building hasn’t been completed five years after receiving a $575,000 grant from the state, leading to the Rhode Island State Auditor to step in to review the IIS’s financials. Both the Rhode Island and Connecticut State Police seize documents and records from Doyle’s work and residences.
2013
Indictment Comes Down
Doyle is arrested in May 2013 and charged on 18 counts of embezzlement, forgery, filing false documents, and obtaining money under false pretense, among others. Doyle threatens to sue the Hartford Courant and WPRI for libel, eventually suing WPRI 12. Doyle engages in protest and a hunger strike.
2016
Trial Begins
Leading up to the trial, Doyle holds a press conference in the summer of 2016 addressing what he believes are shortfalls in the state’s case against him. The trial beings in September, before Doyle lands in the hospital and is released early November. The state calls 53 witnesses to testify and presents the jury with nearly 400 exhibits.
2016
Closing Arguments
Closing arguments were heard on Monday November 28 at Washington County Superior Court in the State of Rhode Island’s case against Dan Doyle.
“You promised you’d hold the state to burden of proof — as to each and every element of the crimes charged,” said Doyle’s attorney Michael Blanchard to the jury. “Trials are about fact and law. You have to put personal feelings aside and decide case solely on the facts.”
Read the coverage of the closing arguments here.
2016
Doyle Found Guilty
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Daniel Doyle (age 67), of West Hartford, CT, was found guilty on December 5 by a Washington County Superior Court jury on all 18 counts charged in the Institute for International Sport embezzlement case. Doyle was found guilty of seven counts of embezzlement, one count of obtaining money under false pretenses, five counts of forgery, and five counts of filing a false document.
2016
Next Steps
Doyle’s attorney Mike Blanchard told GoLocal the following on Monday.
"The judge has asked the AG and myself to schedule a status conference. At the status conference, a schedule will be set for post trial motions. The post trial motions will require Memoranda of law and it is expected that the court will issue a written Memorandum of Decision as to any such motion(s). Also at the status conference the issue of a pretrial sentence memorandum will be discussed and scheduled as well. The pretrial sentence memorandum will address sentencing issues for the courts consideration, these include Mr. Doyle's history as well as any potential mitigating information. Once the defendant is sentenced, the appeal period commences. There is still much work to do before then."
