An Atlantic County woman is among four new defendants charged with filing fraudulent claims after Superstorm Sandy, said Attorney General Christopher Porrino.
The number charged by his office since March 2014 is now at 104, representing more than $6 million in funds.
“It’s despicable that over 100 people saw fit to resort to fraud in the face of a historic disaster, allegedly stealing funds intended for those who were hardest hit,” Porrino said. “At the same time, we’re heartened by the many who stepped up to help others and we’re proud of our historic collaborative efforts to fight fraud, which have recovered millions of dollars and sent an unmistakable message that those who commit this type of fraud will face serious criminal charges.”
Among them was Carmen Martinez, who is accused of receiving more than $34,000 for a property on North Iowa Avenue in Atlantic City that she listed as her primary residence when Sandy struck, according to the charges.
But that was a rental property, Porrino said. Martinez’s primary residence at the time was in Galloway Township. Martinez received $9,090 from FEMA, a $10,000 Homeowner Resettlement Program, or RSP, grant, and $15,000 in funds from SHRAP, the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program funds.
She is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of as much as $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of as long as 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000.
“DCA has been committed from day one of the Sandy recovery effort to ensuring that recovery funds get to Sandy survivors who legitimately qualify for assistance,” said Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Charles A. Richman. “As part of our charge to be good stewards of public funds, we have and will continue to vigilantly report to the proper authorities those individuals who seek to misuse Sandy recovery funds.”
The new cases were investigated by detectives of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and special agents and inspectors of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, HUD Office of Inspector General, SBA Office of Inspector General, HHS Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The National Insurance Crime Bureau assisted.
“Our collaborative efforts to target Sandy relief fraud have been highly productive, as evidenced by the 104 defendants we’ve charged,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The payoff from this anti-fraud program is not only the millions of dollars we are recovering, but also the deterrent message we send. Thanks to these efforts, relief administrators in future disasters may be able to spend less time policing fraud and more time focusing exclusively on the vital task of aiding victims.”
Also charged were:
• Janyn Pettyjohn, 57, of Washington, D.C./Palm Coast, Fla., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance, a low-interest SBA disaster-relief loan, and state grants under RSP and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation, or RREM, Program. As a result, she received a total of approximately $243,226 in relief funds. It is alleged that Pettyjohn falsely claimed in her applications that a home she owns on Kearny Avenue in Seaside Heights, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was her primary residence at the time Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, her primary residence was in Washington, D.C., and the home in Seaside Heights was an investment/rental property. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Pettyjohn received $5,090 from FEMA, $126,600 in SBA loan proceeds, $101,536 in RREM grant funds, and a $10,000 RSP grant. Pettyjohn is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
• Robert Zachok, 53, of Toms River, allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for state grants under RSP, RREM Program and SHRAP. As a result, he allegedly received approximately $158,525 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Zachok allegedly falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns on East Barnegat Way in Lavallette, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, his primary residence at the time of the storm was in Toms River and the home in Lavallette was a rental property. As a result of the alleged false applications, Zachok received a $10,000 RSP grant, RREM grant funds totaling $131,492, and $7,033 in SHRAP funds. Zachok is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
• William E. Thompson, 57, of Lavallette, allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program. As a result, he allegedly received approximately $41,448 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Thompson allegedly falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns on Sailfish Way in Lavallette, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, his primary residence at the time of the storm was in Asbury Park, N.J., and the home in Lavallette was a vacation property. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Thompson received $5,090 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, and $26,398 in RREM grant funds. Thompson is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
