Michael Delia
Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced today that an accountant from Essex County, New Jersey, has been charged with stealing $1.64 million from a local business owner and his two companies that were his clients.
Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, New Jersey, is charged with 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.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2016 through August 9, 2023, Delia allegedly used his position as an accountant and bookkeeper for the victim business owner to steal approximately $1.64 million from his two companies. Delia allegedly diverted the businesses’ funds to personal and corporate bank accounts that he controlled. Financial analysis indicated Delia allegedly used these funds for his personal benefit, which included the payment of personal credit card bills, sports betting, and mortgage bills, among other personal expenses. From January 2020 through July 2023, Delia allegedly diverted collected sales taxes and other funds totaling $910,545 from the businesses to accounts he controlled. Delia was not authorized to use the businesses’ funds for his benefit. Delia also allegedly stole additional funds from the businesses by issuing authorized checks made payable to himself exceeding his agreed upon earnings by $733,313.
As an accountant and bookkeeper, Delia was responsible for remitting the businesses’ sales tax proceeds to the Treasury of the state of New Jersey. For the year 2023, Delia allegedly diverted over $126,258 owed to the state Treasury. Delia instead diverted those funds to his own business, STP Processing, that he registered with the state in 2013.
Attorney General Davenport thanked the DCJ, the Division of Taxation-Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration for the investigation. Delia was arrested with the assistance of the officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The case is being prosecuted by DCJ Deputy Attorney General Conner Ouellette.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
The charges and allegations against the defendant are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.