Long Branch Woman Stole $400K From Affordable Housing Nonprofit

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Long Branch woman who worked as the administrator of a nonprofit located in Neptune was sentenced to five years in state prison after she admitted to stealing more than $400,000 from the organization over the course of nearly seven years,

The woman is Debra Agresti, 59, of Long Branch. Prosecutors say that between August 2012 and March 2019, Agresti used the nonprofit's credit card to purchase hundreds of thousands worth of gift cards, and then spent the gift cards on herself.

The nonprofit is the Affordable Housing Alliance, which helps secure low-income housing and get people moved into low-income housing.

In January 2020, Agresti pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. She admitted that while working for the Affordable Housing Alliance, she made unauthorized purchases of numerous gift cards to pay for her own personal expenses.

In order to conceal her misuse of the credit card, Agresti intercepted monthly statements and created false invoices matching the amounts she spent on the gift cards, instead saying she used the company credit cards to buy ordinary office supplies.

Police say in total she put $449,514.22 in illegal charges on the cards. Police also say she acted alone.

Agresti was originally hired by the Affordable Housing Alliance as an administrative assistant in 2007, then later promoted to Director of Administration.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced her sentencing Monday.

She was sentenced Jan. 21 by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard English, who also ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $446,514.22.

The Affordable Housing Alliance provides housing, support, and services to low- and middle-income individuals and families in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties. A nonprofit is a tax-exempt charitable organization.

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