West Orange Bookkeeper Charged With Stealing Company Funds

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - A man who worked as a bookkeeper for a South Plainfield plumbing, heating and air conditioning company was arrested over the weekend and charged with stealing approximately $700,000 from the firm.

Robert Keith, 46, of West Orange was charged with credit card theft, money laundering, forgery, theft by unlawful taking and unlawful use of a credit card.

While working as the bookkeeper for the unnamed company, Keith stole the money in various amounts between February 1, 2015 and February 7, 2017, the Middlesex County prosecutor charged. The investigation began after company officials discovered the thefts and contacted police.

Keith was arrested Saturday during an investigation by Detective Joseph Glowacki of the South Plainfield Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Keith also served as a minister at a house of worship. It has been determined during the course of the investigation that he sought to add legitimacy to his bookkeeping services by describing himself as a religious leader. He is not, however, a licensed certified public accountant.

Wikimedia Commons image/Dave Dugdale from Superior, USA