Strike Three: Former Holbrook Little League officials plead guilty to theft

It's a called strike three for two Jackson men who have plead guilty to stealing more than $126,000 from the Holbrook Little League.

Anthony Del Vecchio, 64, was president of the league when Ocean County Prosecutors began looking into his alleged theft in 2017 alongside then treasurer John Lehman, 56, both of whom has converted the thousands of dollars for their own benefit.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that Del Vecchio and Lehman, both of Jackson, pled guilty to Theft by Unlawful Taking in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a crime of the third degree.

The State will be recommending a term of non-custodial probation for both Del Vecchio and Lehman, conditioned upon each paying $63,085.41 in restitution to Holbrook Little League and performing 100 hours of community service.

Del Vecchio is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2020 and Lehman is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2020.

“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,” Prosecutor Billhimer said. “This plea agreement was extended with the advice and consent of the Holbrooke Little League Executive Board."

On November 27, 2017, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received information detailing the alleged theft of funds from the Holbrook Little League by League President Anthony Del Vecchio.

Their investigation found that Del Vecchio and Lehman had converted over approximately $126,000 for their benefit.

Del Vecchio and Lehman were the only signatories on the account and both signatures were required on all checks.

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