A former Alabama sports anchor is now under arrest. Mike Raita allegedly illegally drew tens of thousands of dollars from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega.
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What Happened to the Former Anchor?
When 67-year-old Raita led the sports desk at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama, from 1996 to 2017, he earned multiple Emmy Awards and was named Alabama Sportscaster of the Year by the Associated Press 10 times.
He was released from the station in 2017 when his contract expired. According to his LinkedIn profile, Raita served as the executive director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame between 2020 and 2024.
Meanwhile, as reported by the New York Post, a recent audit of the organization shows that a former accounts manager allegedly misappropriated over $230,000 between 2019 and 2024.
That report from the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts states the former sports anchor allegedly charged at least two significant personal purchases to the hall.
These alleged purchases, as detailed in the report, include a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Pace Car and a 1998 Ford F-150. The sports car initially cost $15,000, with an additional $23,000 to refurbish it. The truck cost only $1,000.
Raita Was Removed From the Board of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
After the audit, everyone on the board of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame was removed. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey added new appointees to the Hall. They then reseated the board last November, excluding Raita.
Following his tenure at ABC 33/40, Raita served as regional director for United States Senator Tommy Tuberville. However, the former anchor reportedly resigned in February and has not spoken to the Republican senator since.
Raita was released from custody on Thursday, April 2, on a $25,000 bond. He was charged with using his position or office for personal gain. His legal team says he plans to plead not guilty.
