Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of Samuel M. Denorchia, 57, of Edgewater, on Theft by Deception charges.
According to authorities, in November 2017, representatives of the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department reported a theft of Volunteer Fire Department funds which they believed to have been committed by Denorchia, the Fire Department’s Treasurer/Secretary.
During the course of an investigation, it was determined that Denorchia had utilized his access to the Volunteer Fire Department’s checking and savings accounts to issue checks to himself, which he then negotiated for his own benefit.
From March 2016 to November 2017, Denorchia issued pre-endorsed, blank checks in his own name and fraudulently obtained in excess of $40,000 from the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department’s accounts.
The BCPO Financial Crimes Unit arrested Denorchia in Paramus on Jan. 3rd and charged him with one count of Theft by Deception.
Police issued Denorchia a summons and released him pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court scheduled for Jan. 17.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.