An Essex County accountant has been charged with stealing $1.64 million from a business owner and two companies he served as an accountant and bookkeeper, according to an announcement by Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ).
Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, New Jersey, faces 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 state that between 2016 and August 9, 2023, Delia allegedly transferred company funds into personal and corporate accounts under his control. Investigators allege these funds were used for personal expenses such as credit card bills, sports betting, mortgage payments, and other costs. From January 2020 through July 2023, Delia is accused of diverting $910,545 in sales taxes and other company funds into his own accounts.
Authorities say Delia also issued checks to himself totaling $733,313 above his agreed compensation. In 2023 alone, he allegedly redirected over $126,258 in sales tax proceeds owed to New Jersey’s Treasury into his own business account for STP Processing.
Delia was arrested with help from Port Authority officers from New York and New Jersey. The investigation involved the DCJ, the Division of Taxation-Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Deputy Attorney General Conner Ouellette is prosecuting the case. Second-degree charges carry potential penalties ranging from five to ten years in prison and fines up to $150,000.
The allegations remain accusations at this stage; Delia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Delia’s defense counsel is Vincent C. Scoca of Bloomfield.
