An Essex County accountant has been charged with stealing $1.64 million from a business owner and his two companies, according to an announcement by Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ).
Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, faces charges including two counts of second-degree theft by unlawful taking, one count of second-degree money laundering, and one count of second-degree failure to turn over collected tax.
“Our business owners should be able to trust their hired professionals to help them run their businesses responsibly and legally,” said Acting Attorney General Davenport. “The defendant in this case is accused of violating his trust as the accountant and bookkeeper for two companies, lining his pockets at their expense and at the expense of the people of New Jersey. This conduct will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This defendant is charged with stealing from his client, laundering the stolen money, and then diverted collected taxes from and owed to the state of New Jersey,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “Our office will continue to prosecute white collar cases like this as the serious crimes that they are.”
Court documents allege that between 2016 and August 9, 2023, Delia used his role as accountant and bookkeeper for a local business owner’s two companies to divert funds into personal and corporate accounts he controlled. Investigators say these funds were used for personal expenses such as credit card payments, sports betting, mortgage bills, among others. From January 2020 through July 2023 alone, authorities allege Delia redirected $910,545 in sales taxes and other funds from the businesses into accounts under his control.
Delia also allegedly issued checks payable to himself totaling $733,313 above his agreed compensation. In addition to misappropriating company funds for personal use, Delia was responsible for remitting sales tax proceeds to New Jersey’s Treasury but allegedly diverted more than $126,258 owed in 2023 into STP Processing—a business he registered in 2013.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including DCJ staff members; the Division of Taxation-Office of Criminal Investigation; Office of Inspector General at U.S. Small Business Administration; with arrest assistance provided by Port Authority officers from New York and New Jersey.
Deputy Attorney General Conner Ouellette is prosecuting the case.
If convicted on second-degree charges, Delia could face five to ten years in state prison along with fines up to $150,000.
All charges are accusations at this stage; Delia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
His defense counsel is Vincent C. Scoca from Bloomfield.
