Essex County grand jury indicts two former police officers

NEWARK, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County grand jury has indicted Dino D’Elia and Anthony Buono – two former Newark police officers – on official misconduct, conspiracy and computer theft charges for stealing and then selling information from databases used by law enforcement to investigate insurance fraud.

The two were originally charged in June 2015. Buono, 60, of Millstone worked 25 years as a police officer. He was arrested along with D’Elia, 49, of Nutley, a former longtime Newark Police Officer.

The charges were brought following a seven-month investigation by the Newark Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. On Friday, the Grand Jury returned a six-count indictment charging both men with conspiracy, computer theft, disclosing data, official misconduct and a pattern of official misconduct.

According to Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Walter Dirkin, who is handling the case, it is alleged that the two men illegally accessed a database used to investigate insurance fraud. In doing so they illegally obtained names, addresses and other information shared by law enforcement. They are accused of obtaining information on approximately 900 people and selling each set for $100 to third parties.

The indictment alleges the offenses began in August 2012 and ended on June 16, 2015, when they were charged.

These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.