West Haven Man Charged in High School Sports Fundraising Scam

Salvatore Carfora accused of misappropriating over $39,000 from online 'cash wheel' events

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled dollar bill against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the misappropriation of funds from a community fundraising campaign.A recent wave of alleged fraud targeting community-based fundraising efforts has exposed vulnerabilities in online donation platforms.West Haven Today

A 55-year-old West Haven man has been arrested and charged with first-degree larceny following a lengthy investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds from online gambling events that were purportedly benefiting high school sports programs in the area. Salvatore Carfora is accused of collecting over $39,000 through these 'cash wheel' events on Facebook between August 2020 and May 2022, but the intended recipients, the high school sports teams, did not receive the advertised benefits.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of fraud and financial exploitation targeting community-based fundraising efforts, especially those leveraging social media and online platforms. It raises concerns about the lack of oversight and accountability for these types of crowdsourced fundraising campaigns, which can leave well-intentioned donors vulnerable to deception.

The details

According to investigators, Carfora ran a series of Facebook 'cash wheel' events between August 2020 and May 2022, claiming the proceeds would benefit the West Haven High School hockey team and other local high school sports programs. However, the intended recipients never received the advertised benefits. Authorities determined that over $39,000 collected through these events was allegedly misappropriated by Carfora.

  • The investigation began in May 2022 after a complaint was filed regarding Carfora's Facebook 'cash wheel' events.
  • The events were run between August 2020 and May 2022.

The players

Salvatore Carfora

A 55-year-old resident of West Haven, Connecticut, who was arrested and charged with first-degree larceny for allegedly misappropriating over $39,000 from online fundraising events purportedly benefiting local high school sports programs.

West Haven Police Department

The law enforcement agency that conducted the investigation into Carfora's alleged fundraising scam, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief State's Attorney's Forensic Fraud Examiner and the Office of the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Milford.

West Haven High School

The high school hockey team and other sports programs that were the intended beneficiaries of Carfora's online fundraising events, but did not receive the advertised funds.

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What they’re saying

“This case highlights the growing problem of fraud and financial exploitation targeting community-based fundraising efforts, especially those leveraging social media and online platforms.”

— West Haven Police Department, Spokesperson

What’s next

Carfora is scheduled to appear in court on April 30th, where a judge will determine if he will be allowed to post bail or if he will remain in custody during the ongoing legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This case serves as a cautionary tale for donors to be vigilant when contributing to online fundraisers, especially those involving crowdsourced or social media-driven campaigns. It underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability measures to protect well-intentioned community members from falling victim to financial fraud.