JACKSON – Two leaders of the Holbrook Little League – who took their team to the World Series in 2017 and also allegedly took fundraising money – were indicted on embezzlement charges.
Former league president Anthony Del Vecchio and former treasurer John Lehmann had been charged with theft after an anonymous tip led to an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The team had made it to the World Series in 2017, but the charges reveal that the thefts may have begun “on or about April 6, 2014.” From that date on, more than $118,000 in checks were written to Del Vecchio and/or Lehmann and/or “Pioneer Logistics,” a company owned by Lehmann. Del Vecchio and Lehmann co-signed on all checks.
Documents provided by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office this week showed that Del Vecchio was charged with “theft by unlawfully taking or exercising control over certain moveable property, to wit, approximately $118,558.15 belonging to Holbrook Little League.” He was also charged with conspiracy to commit theft.
Lehmann received both of those charges, and an additional one for using the Little League’s credit card for $500 for personal use. He had been the sole holder of that card.
In previous articles, attorneys for the defendants said they would negotiate and cooperate with prosecutors.
Ultimately, both men were indicted on just one charge each of theft by unlawful taking.
The Prosecutor’s Office said it had received an anonymous letter detailing alleged theft on Nov. 27, 2017, months before it got out to newspapers. Further, the two had been confronted by the rest of the executive board about the disappearing funds on Dec. 13, 2017. During that board meeting, Del Vecchio said he gave himself “an allowance.” Lehmann denied taking any funds for personal use but conceded that he “looked the other way” when signing checks and “gave up on” the accounting functions of the League.
