By Cliff Peale
Enquirer staff writer
COVINGTON - The Florence Freedom's former general manager spent about $142,000 using an American Express card paid by the club's owners, but only about $20,000 was for team expenses, one of the owners said Friday.
Speaking with the team's creditors during a bankruptcy court hearing Friday, Tom Niehaus said Connie Hildebrant made the charges and still has not returned the credit card. It's one of many charges leveled against Hildebrant, 44, who was the team's general manager, and her husband, Chuck, 45, the former managing partner of the Freedom's owner, Northern Kentucky Professional Baseball LLC. Chuck Hildebrant is facing a federal investigation of the financing used to build the minor-league team's ballpark.
The team filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sept. 3. The club disclosed the credit-card payments in filings last month but hadn't previously attached an amount to the charges.
The team's bankruptcy attorney is negotiating with a potential new investor, the city of Florence and dozens of companies that have filed liens. The team hopes to be auctioned to a new owner.
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E-mail cpeale@enquirer.com
ELECTION 2004
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Bush, Kerry still clashing on Iraq
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Election 2004 page
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