Mayor Yemi Mobolade Responds to Lawsuits Claiming Unpaid Debts by Former Business Partner: An Alleged Fraud and Fund Misuse Scandal

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade has denied allegations that his coffee shops failed to repay debts owed to a food distributor. The two lawsuits from Shamrock Foods Company claim that Mobolade’s Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House did not repay bills totaling nearly $29,000 and nearly $68,000 in 2018.

Mobolade, through court responses from his attorney Lyndsay Ressler, denies any wrongdoing and instead points the blame at his former business partner, Russ Ware. According to a crossclaim from Mobolade’s lawyer, Ware has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities and stealing funds from the business. Ware was also a part-owner of the Latin-fusion restaurant and music venue Epiphany, which closed in 2022 amidst allegations of fund misuse.

Mobolade addressed questions about his connection to Ware during his mayoral campaign, stating that he had confronted his business partner and reported the incident to law enforcement in order to protect residents from someone who had harmed him and others. However, he stepped away from his involvement in the two cafes after being elected as mayor as required by the city charter. The businesses are currently being operated by the mayor’s wife, Abbey Mobolade.

The mayor’s office declined to provide comments regarding the lawsuits, and neither the Mobolade family nor Ware responded to requests for comments.