3 Plead Guilty In Bribery, Fraud Probe At Newark Airport: Feds

NEWARK, NJ — Three men have pleaded guilty in connection with a bribery and fraud investigation involving an airline at Newark Airport, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday evening.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, three people have pleaded guilty in connection with the case:

• Edward Dolphin, 65, of Tomball, Texas (conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud)
• James Wajda, 59, of Cement City, Michigan (conspiracy to commit wire fraud)
• Ronald Delucia, 70, of Wayne (conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud)

The specific airline was not named in news release from the attorney's office.

Prosecutors released the following allegations against the three defendants:

“Dolphin was an employee of an airline that operated at Newark Airport. From at least as early as 2014 through in or about April 2017, he was an Airport Operations Hub Vendor Manager, and from in or about April 2017 through in or about November 2022, he was a Manger of Hub Business Partners. In his positions at the airline, Dolphin was able to influence which companies would be awarded certain contracts. Dolphin traded this influence for bribes and kickbacks. For example, Dolphin received bribes from Delucia, who was Chief Operating Officer and later Chief Executive Officer of a company that provided a range of services to airlines at Newark Airport, including the airline for which Dolphin worked. Delucia’s company paid Dolphin up to $31,500 per month, totaling $1 million, in exchange for Dolphin’s assistance in securing work for Delucia’s company. In addition, Dolphin received approximately $70,000 from another vendor in exchange for Dolphin’s influence in the process of awarding a busing contract. Dolphin received approximately $278,000 from another vendor in exchange for his influence in the process of awarding a snow removal contract. Finally, Dolphin received approximately $262,000 in exchange for his influence in the process of awarding an aircraft cleaning contract. In total, Dolphin received over $1.6 million in bribes and kickbacks.”

Prosecutors continued:

“Wajda was the Chief Operating Officer for a Des Plaines, Illinois based company that provided various services to an airline at Newark Airport, including cabin cleaning services. In or about December 2021, the company had a contract with the airline to load provisions onto the airline’s planes. In or about March 2022, Wajda conspired with Delucia, agreeing that Delucia’s company would invoice Wajda’s company for a “dispatcher” to assist in the transportation of the provisions, as if Wajda’s company had subcontracted Delucia’s company to assist in dispatching the trucks transporting provisions to the aircraft. Delucia’s company then fraudulently invoiced Wajda’s company for work that Delucia’s company did not in fact provide, and Wajda’s company paid the invoices. Delucia then kicked back a portion of the fraudulently obtained funds to Wajda through Wajda’s personal limited liability company. Pursuant to this agreement, Delucia’s company invoiced Wajda’s company $150,000 for services that were never rendered. Wajda, in turn, received approximately $38,600 from this scheme.”

In addition to pleading guilty to the conduct involving Dolphin and Wajda, Delucia also admitted his role in conduct involving Alok Saksena, Anthony Rosalli, and Lovella Rogan, who each previously pleaded guilty in this investigation, authorities said.

According to prosecutors, Rosalli, Saksena, and Rogan all held positions with the airline that enabled them to influence which companies the airline would award certain contracts to at Newark Airport.

The defendants conspired to receive bribes and kickbacks from Delucia’s company in exchange for helping Delucia’s company obtain lucrative airline contracts at Newark Airport, prosecutors said.

“For example, in or about September 2021, Delucia’s company bid on a contract to renovate restrooms at Newark Airport,” prosecutors continued. “Saksena, Rosalli, and Rogan sat on the selection committee and each of them voted to award the contract to the company. In exchange for their help in obtaining the $19.7 million restroom renovation contract, and with the expectation that they would use their positions to help the company obtain future contracts, Delucia’s company agreed to pay for significant renovations at their personal residences, including renovating and building bathrooms, renovating a deck, installing floors and sheetrock, and renovating a kitchen. Delucia’s company also gave them valuable items, including electronics and jewelry.”

The total value of the bribes paid was approximately $539,000 to Saksena, $276,000 to Rosalli and $409,000 to Rogan, prosecutors said.

Dolphin, Wajda, and Delucia each face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count, prosecutors said.

Sentencing for Dolphin is scheduled for June 24. Sentencing for Wajda is scheduled for June 24. Sentencing for Delucia is scheduled for July 1.

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