| TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that a former operations manager for a wholesale company in Clifton, N.J., that imports pharmaceutical ingredients has been charged with embezzling half a million dollars from the company.
Steven Dilk, 60, of Clifton, a former warehouse supervisor and operations manager for SST Corporation, was charged yesterday with second-degree theft by deception for allegedly stealing approximately $512,000 from January 2006 through April 2013, when he left the company to work for a competitor. The Division of Criminal Justice filed the charge yesterday by complaint, and a summons was served today on Dilk’s attorney.
It is alleged that Dilk stole the money by fraudulently billing the company for import fees that he claimed to have paid on behalf of the company, when in fact he did not pay such fees during the period in question. Prior to the end of 2005, SST had its products shipped through JFK International Airport in New York, where it sometimes incurred “gate charges” that would be paid by Dilk and would then be reimbursed to him by the company. However, after 2005, SST received its shipments through Philadelphia International Airport, where it hired a shipping broker that handled any issues at the airport, including payment of any fees associated with the importation and receipt of shipments. Although Dilk did not personally incur any expenses for shipments received at Philadelphia International Airport, he allegedly submitted numerous false receipts to SST for “gate charges” that he claimed to have paid. It is alleged that, as a result, he fraudulently received reimbursement from SST totaling approximately $512,000.
Detective Scott Stevens, Detective Mark Byrnes and Analyst Kim Geis are assigned to the ongoing investigation for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau. Deputy Attorney General Marysol Rosero is assigned to prosecute the case.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Because the charge is an indictable offense, it will be presented to a state grand jury for potential indictment.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tip line 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice webpage at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the tip line or webpage will remain confidential.
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