By: Richard L. Smith
Three men have admitted to their roles in a widespread bribery and fraud scheme tied to business dealings at Newark Liberty International Airport, federal authorities announced.
The guilty pleas stem from a long-running investigation into corrupt practices that allowed certain companies to secure lucrative contracts through illicit payments and fraudulent invoicing.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Edward Dolphin, 65, of Tomball, Texas, pleaded guilty on February 19, 2025, to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
James Wajda, 59, of Cement City, Michigan, also pleaded guilty on the same day to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On February 25, 2025, Ronald Delucia, 70, of Wayne, New Jersey, admitted to two counts of conspiracy—one for honest services wire fraud and another for wire fraud.
Authorities detailed how Dolphin, a former airline employee with influence over contract awards, accepted more than $1.6 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering contracts toward specific companies.
One of the primary beneficiaries was Delucia’s company, which provided various airport services. Delucia’s firm reportedly paid Dolphin up to $31,500 per month, totaling around $1 million, in return for securing business deals.
Additional payments were made to Dolphin by other vendors in connection with busing, snow removal, and aircraft cleaning contracts.
Meanwhile, Wajda, a chief operating officer for an Illinois-based company providing airline services at Newark Airport, conspired with Delucia to submit fraudulent invoices for services never rendered.
Delucia’s company falsely billed Wajda’s company for a "dispatcher" role, ultimately collecting $150,000. Wajda personally profited by receiving $38,600 in kickbacks from these fraudulent transactions.
Delucia also admitted to bribing other airline officials, including Alok Saksena, Anthony Rosalli, and Lovella Rogan, who had the authority to influence contract awards. In one instance, Delucia’s company secured a $19.7 million restroom renovation contract at Newark Airport after providing Saksena, Rosalli, and Rogan with valuable home renovations, electronics, and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Federal officials strongly condemned the corruption.
“The defendants exploited their positions to enrich themselves while defrauding others,” said U.S. Attorney Caroline Sadlowski. “This kind of commercial bribery undermines fair competition and economic integrity, and we are committed to holding perpetrators accountable.”
Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly added, “These schemes were deliberately designed to defraud an airline operating out of Newark Airport. The individuals responsible thought they could go unnoticed, but they will now face the consequences.”
Port Authority Inspector General John Gay emphasized the broader impact of such crimes, stating, “Blatant corruption like this erodes public trust and deprives honest businesses of fair opportunities.
We remain committed to rooting out fraud and ensuring the integrity of our region’s infrastructure.”
Dolphin, Wajda, and Delucia each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 per count. Sentencing dates have been set for June 24, 2025, for Dolphin and Wajda, while Delucia is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2025.
