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.

Christopher Gerstel, 50, was arrested Friday morning and is expected to appear before a judge in U.S. District Court Friday afternoon, Foley's office said in a statement. According to Foley, he stole the funds while serving as vice president of baseball operations for Needham Baseball and Softball. Gerstel was the only person with access to the payment software system the little league organization uses to pay professional umpires, according to the statement.

According to prosecutors, Gerstel made more than 200 wire transfers between 2019 and 2024 to move the $200,000 from the Little League's coffers to his own personal account. They said he used the stolen money to pay off credit cards, make car payments, and for personal spending.

A new Little League treasurer later discovered the transfers.

Prosecutors also said Gerstel failed to report the stolen funds in tax years 2019 and 2022, and failed to file tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Gerstel is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud, two counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of failure to file tax returns.

Needham Town Manager Katie King said in a statement that she is aware of the arrest and that no town funds were affected by the reported transfers.

"The town takes stewardship of public funds very seriously and maintains established financial controls and oversight procedures to safeguard taxpayer resources," King said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and take any actions that may be appropriate based on the facts as they become available."

Needham Baseball and Softball president David Volante said in an email that Gerstel no longer has a role in the organization. He said the organization will continue to cooperate with authorities on the matter.

“Our priority has always been — and remains — the children and families of Needham who participate in our programs,” said Volante. “We are deeply disappointed by the allegations, but we are committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that trust in this organization remains strong.”