Superstorm Sandy Contractor Who Defrauded 17 Homeowners Sentenced In Ocean County

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A Manahawkin contractor who stole hundreds of thousands from Super Storm Sandy victims was sentenced to prison on Friday, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Adam Nevius, 49, will not only spend five years in New Jersey State Prison, he will also have to pay the victims $594,607.25 in restitution, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Nevius and his wife, Kimberly Atkinson, 55, also of Manahawkin, owned and operated Coastal Restorations of New Jersey, LLC, Billhimer said. Between Sept. 1, 2014 and June 16, 2017, Nevius - representing Coastal Restorations - entered into contracts with at least 17 homeowners and two sub-contractors for repairs on their homes, most of which were damaged by Super Storm Sandy, Billhimer said.

Despite receiving almost $700,000 from the victims for the repairs, Coastal Restoration did little to no work on the homes, Billhimer said. Instead, Nevius utilized the funds for his own personal benefit.

On April 2, 2019, Nevius was taken into custody at his residence without incident, transported to the Ocean County Jail and released due to New Jersey Bail Reform, Billhimer said. His sentencing was originally set for Aug. 25, 2023, but Nevius never showed and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Billhimer said.

On March 14, 2024, Nevius was taken into custody in Lafayette, Indiana by the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department. He was extradited to New Jersey on March 26 and has been in Ocean County Jail since March 29.

Nevius and Atkinson were both charged with theft by failure to make required disposition, with Atkinson additionally charged with theft by deception. However, she was exonerated by Nevius's guilty plea on June 19, 2023, and her charges were dropped at his sentencing, Billhimer said.