Man Charged With Stealing Money From Ocean City Orphans: Prosecutor

Ocean City, NJ -- A California man is accused of stealing money from an account that was entrusted to him to take care of orphaned children in Ocean City, New Jersey, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor said on Friday.

Michael DeLeon, 46, of Oceanside, California, is charged with second-degree theft.

Police allege DeLeon stole in excess of $75,000 from the Estate of Elizabeth Warrington between 2007 and 2014.

That money was entrusted to him for the care and benefit of his sister’s orphaned minor children in Ocean City. Instead, police allege he used the money for his own benefit.

Police didn't specify the ages of the children, or how many children they allege he stole from.

Detectives from the prosecutor's office obtained an arrest warrant for DeLeon on May 10, and he was arrested on May 18 by members of the Oceanside, California Police Department.

He was committed to the Vista, California Detention Facility, without bail, awaiting extradition back to Cape May County.