NJ Woman Stole $2.6M From Delaware River Waterfront Corp: Feds

PENNSAUKEN, NJ — A New Jersey woman tasked with overseeing funds of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation has been federally charged with stealing more than $2.6 million from the group, authorities said.

Angela DiPietro-Sabatine, 57, of Pennsauken, has been charged by indictment with 10 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting, Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced on Tuesday.

The DRWC is a non-profit, quasi-governmental entity whose mission is to design, develop, and manage the central Delaware River waterfront from Oregon to Allegheny avenues in Philadelphia for residents' benefit.

DiPietro-Sabatine was the accounting administrator at DRWC, where she managed the accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, and general ledger work, according to the indictment.

She generated DRWC checks for false expense items, manipulated the computerized accounting software to change the payee on the check from the legitimate vendor to herself, and forged the signatures of DRWC's authorized signatories, the President and Vice President, on these unauthorized checks made payable to herself, authorities said.

DiPietro-Sabatine spent the stolen proceeds on personal expenses, including gambling and luxury vacations, according to authorities. She is alleged to have done this for at least seven years.

If convicted, DiPietro-Sabatine faces a maximum possible sentence of 230 years in prison, a six-year mandatory minimum sentence, a $4,250,000 fine, and restitution of more than $2.6 million.

Written by Max Bennett, Patch Staff