West Orange Accountant Accused Of Stealing $1.6 Million, Laundering Money

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An accountant from Essex County has been accused of stealing from two businesses that hired him, state prosecutors announced Wednesday.

According to the New Jersey attorney general’s office, Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, allegedly stole $1.64 million from a local business owner and his two companies that were his clients.

Prosecutors released the following allegations about the case:

“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.”

According to prosecutors – 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, prosecutors said.

Delia was 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.

Delia was arrested with the assistance of the officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Other agencies that assisted with the investigation included the Division of Criminal Justice, the Division of Taxation-Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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