West Haven Man Accused of Stealing $39K From High School Sports Fundraiser

Salvatore Carfora charged with first-degree larceny for misappropriating funds, police say.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled wad of cash bills against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating the misappropriation of funds intended for local high school sports.A recent wave of alleged fraud in online community fundraising has eroded trust and undermined the ability of schools to raise money for essential sports programs.West Haven Today

A 55-year-old West Haven resident named Salvatore Carfora has been charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing more than $39,000 that was intended to benefit local high school sports teams. Police say Carfora ran a series of Facebook 'cash wheel' fundraising events between August 2020 and May 2022, claiming the proceeds would go to the West Haven High School hockey team and other sports programs, but the funds were never provided to the schools as advertised.

Why it matters

This case highlights the issue of fraud and misappropriation of funds in community-based fundraising efforts, which can undermine trust and have a negative impact on the ability of schools and youth sports programs to raise money for essential needs. It also raises questions about oversight and accountability for online fundraising platforms.

The details

According to police, Carfora ran a series of Facebook 'cash wheel' events between August 2020 and May 2022 that were advertised as benefiting the West Haven High School hockey team and other sports programs. However, investigators determined that more than $39,000 collected through these events had been misappropriated, and the high school sports teams never received the funds as promised.

  • The Facebook 'cash wheel' events ran from August 2020 to May 2022.
  • Carfora was charged on a warrant on April 15, 2026.

The players

Salvatore Carfora

A 55-year-old resident of West Haven, Connecticut who has been charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly stealing more than $39,000 from a series of Facebook fundraising events that were supposed to benefit local high school sports teams.

West Haven High School

The high school whose hockey team and other sports programs were the intended beneficiaries of the fundraising events, but never received the funds that were collected.

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What’s next

Carfora is scheduled to appear in court on April 30, 2026 to face the first-degree larceny charge.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in community-based fundraising efforts, especially those conducted online, to ensure that donated funds reach their intended recipients and are not misappropriated for personal gain.