Nutley Man, Ex-Cop, Indicted On Conspiracy, Computer Theft Charges

An Essex County grand jury has indicted two former Newark police officers suspected of stealing and selling information from databases used by law enforcement to investigate insurance fraud.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, jury members indicted Dino D’Elia, 49, of Nutley, and Anthony Buono, 60, of Millstone, on charges of conspiracy, computer theft, disclosing data and official misconduct.

The two were originally charged in June 2015.

At the time, Buono had 25 years of experience as an officer and D’Elia was a “longtime Newark police officer,” prosecutors stated.

The charges were brought following a seven-month investigation by the Newark Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, the two men are suspected of illegally accessing a database used to investigate insurance fraud. In doing so, they illegally obtained names, addresses and other information shared by law enforcement, prosecutors allege.

Byono and D’Elia are accused of obtaining information on approximately 900 people and selling each set for $100 to third parties, prosecutors stated.

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.