Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The organizers of a boxing event in Rochester earlier this year that was marred by lower-than-expected attendance and an estimated $100,000 deficit are now facing charges.
Clay Harris and Derick Gramling were arraigned Friday morning in Monroe County Court after a grand jury indictment was unsealed, charging them in connection with the Stop the Violence Boxing Extravaganza held April 25 at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
Harris' organization, United and Healing Through Hope of Monroe County, which hosts community food drives and resource fairs, put on the event in partnership with Gramling's Savage Life Promotions.
In the weeks and months following the event, many of the fighters, event staff, the arena and other vendors said they had not been paid. 13WHAM was told a $30,000 check given to headliner Bryce Mills did not clear, and his father said Friday that money is still owed.
Earlier this month, Harris and Gramling said they were making progress on repaying the money.
Both men pleaded not guilty to two counts of scheme to defraud, three counts of third-degree grand larceny, one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, 10 counts of issuing a bad check and one count of petit larceny.
Harris' attorney, Teo Siguenza, said the case should have been handled in civil court, arguing both men were trying to put on a positive event for the community and had no intention of wrongdoing.
"They tried to do that in this case, by hosting an event that maybe they were a little over their heads on," Siguenza said. "But there was no intent to defraud anybody; there was no attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of others. As a matter of fact, based on my understanding, there's been agreements reached with everybody involved except for one party, which they were working on."
Assistant District Attorney Caroline Rodriguez said she is "looking forward to hopefully getting some of the money back" for the victims in the case.
Prosecutors said in court that Harris was given opportunities to turn himself in but did not. U.S. Marshals took him into custody Thursday in Kingston, New York. Gramling turned himself in Friday morning.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/rochester-boxing-event-organizers-indicted-on-fraud-grand-larceny-bad-check-charges-clay-harris-derick-gramling-stop-the-violence-blue-cross-arena-war-memorial-fighters-not-paid-money-arrests-charges
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#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
The organizers of a boxing event in Rochester earlier this year that was marred by lower-than-expected attendance and an estimated $100,000 deficit are now facing charges.
Clay Harris and Derick Gramling were arraigned Friday morning in Monroe County Court after a grand jury indictment was unsealed, charging them in connection with the Stop the Violence Boxing Extravaganza held April 25 at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
Harris' organization, United and Healing Through Hope of Monroe County, which hosts community food drives and resource fairs, put on the event in partnership with Gramling's Savage Life Promotions.
In the weeks and months following the event, many of the fighters, event staff, the arena and other vendors said they had not been paid. 13WHAM was told a $30,000 check given to headliner Bryce Mills did not clear, and his father said Friday that money is still owed.
Earlier this month, Harris and Gramling said they were making progress on repaying the money.
Both men pleaded not guilty to two counts of scheme to defraud, three counts of third-degree grand larceny, one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, 10 counts of issuing a bad check and one count of petit larceny.
Harris' attorney, Teo Siguenza, said the case should have been handled in civil court, arguing both men were trying to put on a positive event for the community and had no intention of wrongdoing.
"They tried to do that in this case, by hosting an event that maybe they were a little over their heads on," Siguenza said. "But there was no intent to defraud anybody; there was no attempt to enrich themselves at the expense of others. As a matter of fact, based on my understanding, there's been agreements reached with everybody involved except for one party, which they were working on."
Assistant District Attorney Caroline Rodriguez said she is "looking forward to hopefully getting some of the money back" for the victims in the case.
Prosecutors said in court that Harris was given opportunities to turn himself in but did not. U.S. Marshals took him into custody Thursday in Kingston, New York. Gramling turned himself in Friday morning.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/rochester-boxing-event-organizers-indicted-on-fraud-grand-larceny-bad-check-charges-clay-harris-derick-gramling-stop-the-violence-blue-cross-arena-war-memorial-fighters-not-paid-money-arrests-charges
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
