JACKSON, NJ – Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that James Hirsch, 49, of Jackson Township, was charged with Theft in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a.
Related: Holbrook Little League President & Treasurer stole funds from youth baseball league.
Hirsch served as President of the Jackson Youth Football and Cheerleading Organization from December 2016 through March 2018. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit and Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau conducted an investigation after they received information regarding Hirsch’s mishandling of the league’s finances. Further investigation revealed that Hirsch was utilizing funds from the league account, including the misuse of a league-owned ATM card for personal expenses, and that he misappropriated funds exceeding $8000. Hirsch was taken into custody and processed without incident, and released on a summons pending a future court date.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Jackson Township Police Department for their diligent efforts investigating this matter. “This individual violated the trust of the many families and children who comprise the Jackson Youth Football and Cheerleading Organization,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “Rather than leading the organization with honesty and integrity, he betrayed the faith and confidence that was placed in him by using the league as his own personal piggy bank. This type of exploitation – stealing from kids and their families – will not be tolerated,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
In 2014, David Marshall, a Jackson man who served as the director of the Eastern Region of Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc. was sent to jail for stealing $560,000 from the program. In 2019, two Jackson men, Tony DelVecchio and John Lehman, executives of the board of Holbrook Little League were caught stealing $75,000.00 from the town’s youth baseball program.
