Staten Island Man Faces 3 Years In Jail For Defrauding Rumson Homeowners

A Staten Island man pleaded guilty Monday admitting he defrauded Rumson homeowners of deposit money intended to complete repairs to their home damaged by Superstorm Sandy, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Frank Lewery, 52, of the Tottenville section of Staten Island, pleaded guilty Monday before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr. J.S.C. to one count of third degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property Received, and one count of fourth degree Failure to Register with the State Division of Consumer Affairs.

As part of his plea agreement, the State will recommend a sentence of three years in a New Jersey state prison and restitution in the amount of $30,740. Lewery has been free on $75,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr.

An investigation by the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force revealed Lewery was never registered with the state Division of Consumer Affairs as a Home Improvement Contractor and took checks given to him by the homeowners for repairs to their Rumson home and cashed those checks at check-cashing facilities on Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Lewery is scheduled for sentencing on May 16, 2014, before Judge Mellaci.

Homeowners or citizens can report Superstorm Sandy-related complaints via the following:

• The Task Force webpage at www.SandyFraud.com
• Call the Task Force hotline at (855) SANDY 39.   

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew S. Fried, of the Office’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau, who serves as coordinator of the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force.