Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

April 30, 2009

A 21-year-old Wisconsin man who stands accused of stealing more than $12,000 from his fraternity has blamed his crime on video game addiction.

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, Jose Tavarez confessed to authorities that he used a fraternity debit card to buy games and computer gear. At the time, Tavarez was the treasurer of his frat at the University of Wisconsin-Madison:

Tavarez... told police he used a fraternity debit card to buy video games because his bank account is linked to his parents’ and he did not want them seeing that he spent his money on the games...

A list of suspicious purchases on the card... included about 70 purchases at game-oriented businesses, along with many others from online stores selling computer goods...

Posted in Academia Crime File Game Addiction Video Games Made Me Do It

Comments

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Killj0y on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:15.

What kind of kit can you bash togeather with 12k?

If you're spending someone else's money you aren't going to be too picky about price.

For around 4k you can get your TV all three major systems and kit.

Unless he bought himself a blackbird and dumped the rest into buying gold online i'm curious where the other 8k went.

If it's just games that's 130+ titles at full retail. I don't doubt there are a number of good title out there but unless you buy the crossover multi-console stuff I still doubt this is all games.

Would love to see the receipts bet it reads something like:

Games, Kit, Booze, food, "cash withdrawal", games, gamefly, wow subscription, kit, food, food, food, booze, etc.

Typical college boy with someone else's credit card greed.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by GoodRobotUs on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 20:40.

I suspect you will find this 'addiction' only began to appear after the credit card was in his hands ;)

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 14:02.

Thanks Walsh, thanks Thompson, thanks Grossman, thanks Yee, thank you all for giving this douchebag thief an easy excuse.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Kendra Kirai on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:50.

Just in time for that NIMF 'study' claiming that 1 in 8 or whatever gamers are addicted. Scaaaapegooaaaaat. Just like the 'Violent vidja games made me shoot them folks' defense. Phah.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by mdo7 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 22:25.

Cue NIMF and the Prof. Gentile claming they were right in 3...2...1. Oh never mind, they kind of did already.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by killatia on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:15.

Your 21 years old, take your punishment like a "MAN"!

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 10:30.

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by DarkSaber on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 10:50.

There always one a bit behind the times. Facepalm pics are so mid-to-late 2007.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:31.

Then enlighten us. What is a better way to express a FacePalm?

("Don't do it" doesn't count. If that's all you got, your argument has no weight.)

-----------------------------

"The sun will always rise tomorrow. We can only live for today, and hope more days will come." -Unknown

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Aliasalpha on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:43.

I think it's *Facebreast* now. The system requirements are higher because it requires a woman with relatively large breasts, you put your head between them, clamp them over your ears so you can't hear the stupidity and then not long after you think "Who cares about stupidity, I'm playing with a woman's breasts"

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:45.

I looked up facebreast and this is what I got:

*Snip* EZK: Sorry, some of us are at work and this could be percieved as a little on the NSFW side of things.

*shudder*

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 13:55.

Bah, you're no fun, EZK.

Just link it, Turnip. That should be fine.

-----------------------------

"The sun will always rise tomorrow. We can only live for today, and hope more days will come." -Unknown

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 14:31.

4chan FTW :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2257467551_bd88549ef7.jpg

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 14:59.

Hey. Sorry about that. Just as I was hitting post comment, I thought, maybe I should have left a link.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by DarkSaber on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 14:18.

Remember what you said about not turning this place into 4chan?

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by hayabusa75 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 21:51.

He didn't mean it, of course. Shadow would be perfectly happy if every thread had nothing but pictures. I used to feel the same way about books...of course, that was back in kindergarten.

"De minimus non curat lex"

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:19.

I try to stay behind the times in hopes that the things I do become cool again :D

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 10:36.

STOP TURNING THIS PLACE INTO 4CHAN YOU STUPID TROLL!!!

[/sarcasm]

Honestly, some people can't see how much better pictures are than words.

Where do you get those pics from, BTW?

-----------------------------

"The sun will always rise tomorrow. We can only live for today, and hope more days will come." -Unknown

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:18.

HA!

Let me introduce you to a little known tool called Google Images

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:32.

I use that, and PhotoBucket, and ImageShack, and yet I never find pics as good as that.

-----------------------------

"The sun will always rise tomorrow. We can only live for today, and hope more days will come." -Unknown

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:43.

Sometimes, to get the good pics, you have to use multiple search words. For this one, I think I searched for college facepalm. Also, you have to go through a lot of duplicate and useless pics before you find a good one ;)

*******

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907543

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by SimonBob on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:49.

Man, this is not gonna do anything good for his draft ranking.

...Oh, wait, it's Tavarez.

---
The Mammon Philosophy

---
Fangamer

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Archgabe on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:45.

Big screen TV: $2000

Latest console with games: $1000

Latest computer system: $6000

Being a total tool and using a trupid defence when you are caught stealing the before mentioned money and thus making my morning a little more entertaining: Priceless

There are some things money can't buy, and you will find them on Gamepolitics.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Werrick on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:29.

I think it's pretty easy to predict the reaction of most of the comments on this thread without having to see them.

That being said... it's the smart thing to do, really. I mean, from his perspective. Personally, I hope whatever judge he gets tells him to stick it in his ass, but ultimately it's the smart money. In this culture right at the moment, it's an entirely plausible defense, from the public perspective.

Dude probably knows full well that's not why he did it, he's just trying to get away with not paying it back.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by SimonBob on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:52.

Or maybe he's an industry plant, and they want him to be found guilty so they can debunk the game-addiction concept once and for all. Then they just need a firefighter to state that GTA taught him to save kittens from a burning building and presto, games are socially acceptable again!

---
The Mammon Philosophy

---
Fangamer

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Stealthguy on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:49.

Plausible but effective?

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by HarmlessBunny on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:33.

$12,000 for games? ummmm....yeah uh huh. Maybe $1,000. Seriously...this is pretty ridiculous. Screams more of "Oh I have been caught, what is a good excuse?" Video game addict caused me to steal $12,000? What was he going to do? Buy hundreds of games plus a system or two? Or get the big screen tv, system, home theater audio, plus a dozen here and there of games? I hope they smack this kid for being an idiot.

Current media and public will eat this up, and he'll gamble on that the judge will go for it. Could he play the excuse off? It is a possibility. He probably did it just for the sheer kicks. What was the other 30%? Gas, restaurants, and other things here and there? Hrm who knows... I hope the Court tells him not to waste their time by lying to them and just to accept that he is an idiot thief, and will work his ass off (in jail or out) to repay what he stole.

==============

James Fletcher, member of ECA Canada

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by foolkiller79 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:24.

This sounds like a case of trying to hide video gaming from his parents, if his story is to be believed. How over-bearing are they that he feels he can't admit he likes to buy video games? It isn't like it is alcohol or adult material.

At the end of the day he is just greedy, though.

GameDrunk - Celebrating our two greatest passions.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by MechaTama31 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 10:15.

If he was really just trying to mask the fact that he was spending money on games, he would have replaced the funds he took, since a transaction to the fraternity would not raise the "gaming" flag. He did not. He simply took the money, so his true motive is clear.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Stealthguy on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:26.

Hid all his video games under a matress when he lived with his parents. Would always freak out when they came in without knocking. They probably thought it was harmless mastarbation, never did they suspect *dramatic pause* those damn vide-uh-games!

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by DarkSaber on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:43.

Video game addiction? Whatever, he's still a thief.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Aliasalpha on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:37.

He's old enough to know better, kick him in the bollocks & make him pay it back

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Conster on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:32.

I am SO jealous right now. If only I could steal $12,000 to spend on video games.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Michael Chandra on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:31.

Shotgun. Face.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by GoodRobotUs on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 07:27.

Greed is not an addiction.

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by JustChris on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 13:46.

It is compulsive behavior, but not addiction. People need to know the difference.

GameSnooper

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by DeepThorn on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 08:41.

I was going to say the same thing... You see CEOs do this kind of crap all of the time, buy very expensive crap with their company's money.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: Accused Fraternity Embezzler Blames Video Game Addiction

Submitted by Zero Beat on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 10:48.

Then the company tanks, so they ask for a bailout, only to do the same shit. It's disgusting and they should be shot.

"That's not ironic. That's justice."

Shout box

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