An Essex County accountant is facing criminal charges after authorities say he stole more than $1.6 million from a longtime client and the client’s two businesses, allegedly using some of the money for personal expenses like sports betting. New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice announced the charges on January 28.
The defendant, Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, 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 taxes, state officials said.
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. Business owners should be able to trust their hired professionals. pic.twitter.com/Mmb7DuI11D
— Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport (@NewJerseyOAG) January 28, 2026
“Our business owners should be able to trust their hired professionals to help them run their businesses responsibly and legally,” Acting Attorney General Davenport said. “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,” DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton said. “Our office will continue to prosecute white collar cases like this as the serious crimes that they are.”
Essex County accountant allegedly steals to fund sports betting and other personal expenses
According to court records and statements made in court, prosecutors say that between 2016 and August 9, 2023, Delia used his role as an accountant and bookkeeper for a local business owner to steal about $1.64 million from two companies owned by that client. Authorities allege he funneled company money into personal and business bank accounts that he controlled.
A financial review found that Delia allegedly used the money for personal expenses, including paying off credit cards, sports betting, mortgage payments, and other costs. From January 2020 through July 2023, investigators say he also diverted $910,545 in collected sales taxes and other funds into his own accounts, money he was not authorized to use for himself.
Prosecutors further claim that Delia wrote company checks to himself that went beyond his agreed-upon pay, resulting in an additional $733,313 in stolen funds.
As the companies’ accountant and bookkeeper, Delia was responsible for sending sales tax payments to the New Jersey State Treasury. Authorities allege that in 2023 alone, he diverted more than $126,258 owed to the state and instead routed that money to his own business, STP Processing, which he registered in 2013.
Attorney General Davenport thanked the Division of Criminal Justice, the Division of Taxation’s Office of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General for their work on the case. Delia was arrested with help from officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The case is being handled by DCJ Deputy Attorney General Conner Ouellette.
In New Jersey, second-degree charges can carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison, along with fines of up to $150,000.
As with all criminal cases, these are allegations only, and Delia is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Featured image: Essex County Department of Corrections
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