A Highlands man faces Theft by Deception charges for allegedly defrauding FEMA out of almost $23,000. 59-year-old Martin Kiely, allegedly lied on two applications saying that an empty Sandy-damaged house he owned was his primary residence.

Kiely, who's a retired Hoboken Police Officer, was indicted Monday on two counts of third degree Theft by Deception in connection with a pair of applications to FEMA and subsequent awards.

According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, "an investigation by the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force and the federal Department of Homeland Security discovered Kiely owned two properties in the borough, one on Shore Drive and another on 5th Street. The Shore Drive residence serves as his primary residence and the 5th Street residence has been vacant and without electrical service since 2004. The also learned that borough officials considered having the 5th Street property demolished citing its state of disrepair."

If convicted of Theft by Deception, Kiely faces a sentence of three to five years in prison on each count.

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