Needham Parks Chair Indicted Over $250,000 Little League Theft, Facing 17 Federal Counts
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 5
Needham Parks Chair Indicted Over $250,000 Little League Theft, Facing 17 Federal Counts
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 5
Summary
Christopher J. Gerstel, chairman of Needham’s Parks and Recreation Commission, was arrested Friday and scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Boston after prosecutors charged him with stealing about $250,000 from Needham Baseball and Softball.
From 2019 to 2024, Gerstel allegedly had sole access to the league’s payment software and made about 200 transfers meant for umpire payments into his personal accounts as credit card debt and other financial pressures mounted.
Federal prosecutors said the money was spent on credit card balances, car payments, country clubs and casino cash withdrawals; on one day, they allege he moved $1,300 from league funds and then made two Mohegan Sun payments totaling $911.
The indictment includes 12 wire fraud counts, two counts tied to false tax returns for 2019 and 2022, and three counts for failing to file returns in 2020, 2021 and 2023, alleging he used the stolen funds to reduce tax liability.
Needham Town Manager Katie King said the case involves private league money, not town accounts, and said the town has no indication any municipal funds or financial resources were affected.