An Essex County accountant is dealing with legal fees after authorities say he stole greater than $1.6 million from a longtime consumer and the consumer’s two companies, allegedly utilizing a few of the cash for private bills like sports activities betting. New Jersey Performing Lawyer Common Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Legal Justice announced the fees on January 28.
The defendant, Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, is charged with two counts of second-degree theft by unlawful taking, one depend of second-degree cash laundering, and one depend of second-degree failure to show over collected taxes, state officers stated.
The defendant on this case is accused of violating his belief because the accountant and bookkeeper for 2 corporations, lining his pockets at their expense and on the expense of the individuals of New Jersey. Enterprise house owners ought to be capable of belief their employed professionals. pic.twitter.com/Mmb7DuI11D
— Performing Lawyer Common Jennifer Davenport (@NewJerseyOAG) January 28, 2026
“Our enterprise house owners ought to be capable of belief their employed professionals to assist them run their companies responsibly and legally,” Performing Lawyer Common Davenport stated. “The defendant on this case is accused of violating his belief because the accountant and bookkeeper for 2 corporations, lining his pockets at their expense and on the expense of the individuals of New Jersey. This conduct might be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation.”
“This defendant is charged with stealing from his consumer, laundering the stolen cash, after which diverted collected taxes from and owed to the state of New Jersey,” DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton stated. “Our workplace will proceed to prosecute white collar instances like this as the intense crimes that they’re.”
Essex County accountant allegedly steals to fund sports activities betting and different private bills
In line with courtroom data and statements made in courtroom, prosecutors say that between 2016 and August 9, 2023, Delia used his position as an accountant and bookkeeper for an area enterprise proprietor to steal about $1.64 million from two corporations owned by that consumer. Authorities allege he funneled firm cash into private and enterprise financial institution accounts that he managed.
A monetary overview discovered that Delia allegedly used the cash for private bills, together with paying off bank cards, sports activities betting, mortgage funds, and different prices. From January 2020 by way of July 2023, investigators say he additionally diverted $910,545 in collected gross sales taxes and different funds into his personal accounts, cash he was not licensed to make use of for himself.
Prosecutors additional declare that Delia wrote firm checks to himself that went past his agreed-upon pay, leading to a further $733,313 in stolen funds.
As the businesses’ accountant and bookkeeper, Delia was answerable for sending gross sales tax funds to the New Jersey State Treasury. Authorities allege that in 2023 alone, he diverted greater than $126,258 owed to the state and as an alternative routed that cash to his personal enterprise, STP Processing, which he registered in 2013.
Lawyer Common Davenport thanked the Division of Legal Justice, the Division of Taxation’s Workplace of Legal Investigation, and the U.S. Small Enterprise Administration’s Workplace of the Inspector Common for his or her work on the case. Delia was arrested with assist from officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The case is being dealt with by DCJ Deputy Lawyer Common Conner Ouellette.
In New Jersey, second-degree fees can carry a sentence of 5 to 10 years in state jail, together with fines of as much as $150,000.
As with all legal instances, these are allegations solely, and Delia is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible in courtroom.
Featured picture: Essex County Division of Corrections
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