Mayor Mobolade Faces Financial Struggles as Lawsuits Allege Fraud by Former Business Partner

In 2018, two lawsuits were filed against Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade by Shamrock Foods Company. The company accused Mobolade’s Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House of failing to repay debts totaling nearly $29,000 and nearly $68,000, respectively. Shamrock is seeking full repayment of the amounts along with interest and attorney’s fees. However, Mobolade denies any wrongdoing through his court responses from his attorney Lyndsay Ressler.

According to a crossclaim from Mobolade’s lawyer, the former business partner of Mobolade, Russ 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. During his mayoral campaign, Mobolade addressed questions about his connection to Ware 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.

Mobolade 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 while neither the Mobolade family nor Ware responded to requests for comments.