Needham, Massachusetts Parks and Rec Chair Accused of Stealing $200,000 From Little League Families
Federal prosecutors say Christopher J. Gerstel made 200 transactions and used stolen money for personal debts and casino payments.
- On Friday, federal authorities arrested Christopher Gerstel, chairman of the Needham Parks and Recreation Commission, after a grand jury indicted him on 17 charges including wire fraud for allegedly stealing more than $250,000 from Needham Baseball and Softball.
- Prosecutors allege Gerstel used his sole access to the ArbiterPay payment software to make more than 200 unauthorized wire transfers between June 2019 and October 2024, diverting funds meant for umpire payments to his personal account.
- A federal grand jury indicted Gerstel on 12 wire fraud counts, two counts of filing false tax returns, and three counts of failure to file tax returns; discovery came after a new treasurer identified over $250,000 in transfers to his personal account.
- Needham Town Manager Katie King stated the allegations pertain to private funds, not town accounts, while Needham Baseball and Softball President David Volante said the organization is "deeply disappointed by the allegations" and has recently strengthened financial safeguards.
- Gerstel was arraigned in federal court in Boston on Friday and pleaded not guilty to all charges; he was released and is expected back in court on July 1st.
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Bad Bounce In Massachusetts: Parks Chairman Indicted For Stealing $200K From Youth League - Tampa Free Press
The head of Needham’s Parks and Recreation Commission faces a 17-count federal indictment after allegedly skimming more than $200,000 from a local youth baseball and softball league to fund casino trips, car payments, and credit card debt. Christopher Gerstel, 50, was arrested Friday morning. Federal prosecutors say Gerstel used his position as Vice President of […] Bad Bounce In Massachusetts: Parks Chairman Indicted For Stealing $200K From You…
U.S. Attorney accuses Needham parks and rec chairman of stealing $200k from little league organization
The chairman of the Needham Park and Recreation Commission will face a raft of criminal charges after U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office accused him of siphoning more than $200,000 from a local little league to his personal bank account.
Needham Parks & Rec. chairman arrested for stealing from town’s Little League umpire funds
The Chairman of Needham Parks and Recreation Commission has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he defrauded the town’s Little League fund out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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