Staten Island Man Indicted For Sandy Repair Scam

A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a Staten Island, N.Y. man
for defrauding Rumson homeowners of nearly $37,000 of deposit money intended to complete
repairs to their home from damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, Acting Monmouth County
Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Frank Lewery, 51, of the Tottenville section of Staten Island, was indicted Monday on
one count of third degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property Received,
one count of third degree Attempted Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property
Received, one count of third degree Forgery, and one count of fourth degree Failure to Register
with the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Lewery is free on $75,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr., pending a future court date. The investigation revealed Lewery was never registered with the state Division of Consumer Affairs as a Home Improvement Contractor, cashed the checks at check-cashing
facilities on Staten Island and Brooklyn, failed to place orders for the materials needed for the
project, forged a check, and also asked a kitchen designer to lie about a non-existent order.
Additional information concerning this case can be found on the Office’s website at
http://www.prosecutor.co.monmouth.nj.us/press-releases.html

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

Homeowners or citizens are urged to report complaints via the following:
• The Task Force webpage at www.SandyFraud.com
• Call the Task Force hotline at (855) SANDY 39.
• Visit the Task Force Command Center, located in the Bayshore Activity Center at Bayshore Waterfront Park, 719 Port Monmouth Road, in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown Township. Command Center hours are Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The case is being prosecuted by 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.