JACKSON – Two former officials of the Holbrook Little League have pleaded guilty to stealing $126,000 from the youth baseball organization in Jackson.
On Dec. 2, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Anthony Del Vecchio, 64, and John Lehman, 56, both of Jackson, pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking.
Billhimer said a term of non-custodial probation would be recommended for each defendant, conditioned upon each man paying $63,085 in restitution to the Holbrook Little League and performing 100 hours of community service.
According to a press release from the prosecutor, on Nov. 27, 2017, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received information detailing the alleged theft of funds from the Holbrook Little League by Del Vecchio, who was the league’s president.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Del Vecchio and Lehman, who was the league’s treasurer, had converted more than $126,000 for their benefit.
Del Vecchio and Lehman were the only signatories on the account and both signatures were required on all checks, according to the press release.
Del Vecchio is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 24 and Lehman is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, both before state Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski, sitting in Toms River.
“Both defendants will be required to pay restitution in full on or before their respective sentencing date(s), pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement. If they don’t come up with the restitution in full, we will be seeking a custodial sentence,” Billhimer said. “This plea agreement was extended with the advice and consent of the Holbrook Little League Executive Board.”
