Holbrook Little League Under Scrutiny Over Finances: Report

JACKSON, NJ — What has happened to thousands of dollars raised to support Holbrook Little League's run to the 2017 Little League World Series? And what has happened to funds paid in the form of league fees? Those are the questions parents are asking, according to a report.

The Asbury Park Press reported board members of Holbrook Little League have asked the Oceean County Prosecutor's Office to investigate the league's finances amid a growing chorus of questions from parents about money that was raised to support the 12-year-old All-Stars who went to Williamsport last summer.

The prosecutor's office declined to comment on the matter. "We do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations," said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

A source within the league told Patch that concerns about the finances have been raised for more than a year, preceding the World Series run. But the issues came to a head when families of the players who went to the Little League World Series sought information about fundraising that was done to help offset the costs of the travel, and the league initially could not hold winter practices because it could not pay its insurance policy, the source said .

The league's president, Anthony Del Vecchio, and treasurer John Lehmann abruptly resigned in January, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The Holbrook Little League All-Stars reached the United States championship semifinals, where it fell to Connecticut in the double-elimination tournament. Documents supplied to Patch show $12,000 was collected to support the families, money that the Press report said was finally distributed in December.

How much money may be involved remains unclear. The Asbury Park Press report said the league had not file a Form 990 — required of nonprofit organizations yearly — with the IRS in three years. It also had not filed required paperwork with the state, the report said.

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