Staten Island Contractor Heads to Prison for Defrauding Sandy Homeowners

Staten Island man will be calling a New Jersey state prison home for the next five years after defrauding Rumson Sandy victims out of their deposit money for home repairs. Frank Lewery learned his fate Friday after pleading guilty to one count of third degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property in March. Lewery also paid over $30-thousand dollars in restitution.

According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, "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."

The prosecutor's office urges homeowners or citizens to report Superstorm Sandy-related complaints to:

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