Treasurer Used Howell Softball Funds For Bail, Landscaping: Police

HOWELL, NJ -- The treasurer of a youth sports organization has been charged with stealing $40,000 from the organization, Howell police said Wednesday.

Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said Howell police were first contacted in December 2015 by officials from the Howell Girls Softball League reporting possible fraud/theft involving their league’s finances.

Officials noticed unauthorized transactions totaling several thousand dollars conducted by league treasurer Thomas Vilanova, 45, of Newbury Road in Howell, Antunez said.

Investigation by Howell Detective Cpl. Nancy Carroll revealed that Vilanova, league treasurer since 2012, had made hundreds of unauthorized transactions totaling approximately $40,000 for his own personal benefit, he said.

Using the league’s debit card and checks, Vilanova spent the league’s money on his home’s landscaping and utility bills, to post his own bail for a previous arrest, meals, transportation and personal car maintenance among other expenditures in multiple states including New Jersey and New York, Antunez said.

Vilanova surrendered to police on April 27 and was charged with third-degree theft and released on a criminal summons pending court.