New Jersey Accountant Stole $1.6 Million to Fund Sports activities Bets

• An accountant in New Jersey is accused of stealing cash from two shoppers
• State prosecutors allege the accountant used a few of the illicit funds to cowl his sports activities bets

The New Jersey Legal professional Common’s Workplace has charged an accountant on the claims that he stole from two companies that employed him. A lot of the cash, prosecutors allege, went to fund his sports activities betting dependancy.

Michael Delia, 61, allegedly stole greater than $1.6 million from two New Jersey companies he labored for as an accountant and bookkeeper. Delia is dealing with years behind bars if convicted on the quite a few second-degree felony costs. (Picture: Essex County Division of Corrections)

NJ Appearing Legal professional Common Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Legal Justice charged Michael Delia, 61, of West Orange, with two counts of second-degree theft by illegal taking, one depend of second-degree cash laundering, and one depend of second-degree failure to show over collected tax.

The defendant on this case is accused of violating his belief because the accountant and bookkeeper for 2 firms, lining his pockets at their expense and on the expense of the individuals of New Jersey. This conduct will probably be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation,” mentioned Davenport.

The costs include the chance that Delia may spend many years in jail if discovered responsible. Every second-degree felony cost carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years in state jail, and a nice of as much as $150,000.

Sports activities Betting Behavior

Charging paperwork allege that Delia funneled collected tax cash from the 2 companies he labored for as an accountant and bookkeeper to private and company financial institution accounts he managed.

An investigative monetary evaluation concluded that Delia used the funds for his private profit, together with bank card payments, mortgage funds, and sports activities betting. From January 2020 by means of July 2023, state prosecutors allege Delia swindled $910,545 in taxes and issued himself checks from the businesses totaling $733,313, for a grand theft of $1,643,385. 

As an accountant and bookkeeper, Delia was liable for remitting taxes from the 2 undisclosed companies to the New Jersey Treasury. For the 2023 tax 12 months, state officers allege that Delia diverted greater than $126K in gross sales taxes from the 2 companies to his private accounts.

The US Workplace of the Inspector Common and Small Enterprise Administration assisted within the investigation. 

Sports activities Betting Inflicting Habit Issues 

As On line casino.org reported final 12 months, scholastic, psychological well being, and accountable gaming researchers throughout the nation proceed to voice issues that the proliferation of authorized sports activities betting is leading to a surge in downside playing.

A examine from the College of Massachusetts College of Public Well being and Well being Sciences concluded that the variety of gamblers experiencing gambling-related monetary harms practically doubled between 2022 and 2024.

The American Gaming Affiliation boasts that authorized sportsbooks received greater than $15 billion from bettors from January by means of November 2025, probably the most lately reported month. That’s a 17.4% improve on the 11 months in 2024.

The gaming commerce group tasks that regulated oddsmakers will take $1.76 billion in authorized wagers on this Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl LX. That’s up from the AGA’s $1.39 billion projection for the massive sport final 12 months.