Holbrook Little League: Ex-leaders charged with $118K theft from Jackson league

JACKSON - Two former top officials at Holbrook Little League have been arrested and charged with pocketing League money since 2014, including during the run of the league's 12-year-old All-Stars to the Little League World Series last year.

Former President Tony Del Vecchio, 63, and former Treasurer John Lehmann, 55, were both charged with second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit theft after allegedly misappropriating $118,000 for their own benefit, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.

Detectives in the Prosecutor's Economic Crimes Unit spent two months examining the league's financial records, prompted by an anonymous letter detailing a possible theft from the Holbrook Little League, the Prosecutor's Office said.

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In a statement, Freehold attorney Richard Lomurro – representing Del Vecchio – declined to comment, as no discovery evidence or investigative reports had been provided by the police or the Prosecutor's Office.

"It is our intention to vigorously defend Mr. Del Vecchio, who has dedicated over 25 years to the Holbrook Little League and is highly regarded by the members of his community," Lomurro said.

EARLIER: Former Holbrook Little League president charged, per source

The charges come 24 hours after an Asbury Park Press investigation into Holbrook’s finances revealed a series of miscues that ran the league afoul of federal, state and municipal nonprofit laws:

Holbrook hasn’t filed nonprofit tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service in three years, calling its tax-exempt status – a critical fundraising lifeline for nonprofits – into question.

The last tax return filed in 2014 showed the League lost more than $6,000 after raising more than $264,000.

The state Division of Consumer Affairs lists the league as “non-compliant” with laws requiring annual financial statements.

Despite holding a mandatory annual raffle among families, Holbrook has never obtained a township-issued license to have a raffle.

INVESTIGATION: Holbrook Little League finances in disarray after Little League World Series run

Board members on Thursday said the Press' findings, particularly the failure to file tax returns or apply for a raffle license, were previously unknown to them. Watch a video from Thursday's board meeting in a video at the top of the page.

"The majority of the people on the board had no idea what our finances were. We were in the dark as much as anybody," Holbrook Little League board member Dave Citron said Friday. "Our attention now is turned to getting the kids on the field playing baseball and softball. It’s been a very difficult time for all of us."

Resignations and financial records

The Prosecutor's Office alleged that Del Vecchio and Lehmann began misusing league money in 2014 – the last year that the league filed tax returns.

The pair resigned from the board of directors in January without explanation, weeks after the Prosecutor's Office received the anonymous letter that sparked its investigation.

The December letter came just as parents of the 13 players on Holbrook Little League's World Series team – who finished fourth in the United States – finally received fundraising checks from the league. Over the summer, an estimated $19,000 was raised – including a $2,000 check from the Press – to offset travel and transportation costs faced by the players' families.

The $1,600 reimbursement each family received was appreciated, but the money came after a three-month struggle to get the funds, which parents said included unanswered questions and "not-so-nice" email responses from Del Vecchio.

“The whole thing was a great experience, but it just took so long to get money from the league afterwards," said Rob Arent, whose son, Mike, played a number of positions on the Little League World Series team.

But the delay in funds only raised more concerns with the parents about the overall financial management of the league.

RELATED: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office investigating Holbrook Little League

They apparently were not alone. Shortly after Del Vecchio's and Lehmann's resignations, the remaining board members "raised concerns about league funds after observing discrepancies in their accounts" and contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

In a news release, the Prosecutor’s Office said Del Vecchio and Lehmann were the only two signatories on the league’s bank account and “converted” the money for their benefit.

COLUMN: Holbrook exemplifies youth sports becoming big business

Lehmann was the sole holder of a league debit card account and misused it in excess of $500, the Prosecutor's Office said. He has not yet retained an attorney.

According to public records, there is a $34,000 federal tax lien on Lehmann's Jackson Mills Road home. Lehmann's social media profiles list him as the owner of Pioneer Logistics and Systems, a Woodbridge trucking company,

'How do you steal money from kids?'

It's been a "long month" since the Holbrook Little League board first contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Citron said.

"A lot of sleepless nights," he added.

In comments to the Press on Friday, board members expressed regret that they didn't know about the alleged thefts. And they felt sympathy for the families of Del Vecchio and Lehmann: Both are longtime Jackson residents, whose families were well-known at Holbrook and beyond.

"I hope the best for him. Whatever it is, hopefully it all works out for him," board member Stewart Bennion said of Del Vecchio, before news of Lehmann's arrest was released. "He’s a human being, hopefully for his family and whatever it is that it is. But really there’s no comment. I don’t know exactly what this is going to be."

Board member John Braun said it was "disheartening that the Prosecutor's Office was able to find enough to bring charges." At a board meeting Thursday, Braun pledged that the league would become more transparent, dedicated to opening up the books for review.

EDITORIAL: Holbrook Little League strikes out on transparency

For the first time anyone could remember, board members issued a financial statement to members of the public during its meeting Thursday.

"I don't think (the arrests) make it any easier or any better in any way, period," Braun said. "I would have loved to find out it was all a big misunderstanding, but apparently that's not what the Prosecutor's Office feels."

Little League International President and CEO Stephen D. Keener said the Little League regional staff and Little League International will "continue to work with and support the members of the Holbrook Little League board of directors affected by this difficult situation."

“Little League International is always saddened to learn of the allegations of any misuse of funds that are intended for use by a Little League community of families and children involved," Keener said, declining further comment.

Marianne Kinsman, mother of Little League World Series infielder Ryan, said she was "relieved that finally justice was served.

"How do you steal money from kids?" Kinsman asked. "I don’t understand that. I’m just glad that justice was finally served, and hopefully Holbrook gets back up and running now that he’s out."

Nevin Mann, father of Little League World Series pitcher Tai, told the Press on Friday that he felt "vindicated" by the charge, but said his only concern was for the "sanctity of the league, overall.

"And if this is the first step in restoring some of that, then that’s great,” Mann said.

Mike Davis; @byMikeDavis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com

Daniel LoGiudice; @danny_logiudice; dlogiudice@gannettnj.com