Sunday, January 21, 2018

Former Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department Chief Samuel M. DeNorchia, 57, was arrested and accused of stealing more than $40,000 from the local fire department while serving as its treasurer

Samuel M. DeNorchia, 57


An Edgewater man was arrested and accused of stealing more than $40,000 from the local fire department while serving as its treasurer, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Samuel M. DeNorchia, 57, was arrested Wednesday in Paramus after he allegedly wrote checks to himself from the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department using its funds, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The estimated $40,000 total came between March 2016 and November 2017.

DeNorchia served as chief of the department from from 1993 to 2002, according to Edgewater's municipal website. No one answered a call made to the department Wednesday evening.

He served as chief when the department transitioned from paid to volunteer in 1995.

The department website has an S. DeNorchia and an S. DeNorchia Jr. listed as members.

DeNorchia was charged with theft by deception and has a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 17.