Ocean City Man Fraudulently Got $130K In Sandy Relief Funds: AG

OCEAN CITY, NJ — An Ocean City man was charged Wednesday with filing fraudulent applications for Superstorm Sandy relief, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General said. Robert Girardo received $130,347 in funds to which he wasn't entitled, the OAG said.

Girardo, 68, falsely claimed that a property he owned in Pleasantville was his primary home, officials said. The OAG said his primary home during the storm was in Ocean City, and the Pleasantville residence is a rental property.

He received relief from two grants: $120,347 under the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program and $10,000 under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP), the OAG said.

Girardo was charged with second-degree theft by deception, according to authorities.

The NJOAG and its state and federal partners have charged 130 people with filing fraudulent applications for federal relief funds related to Superstorm Sandy. Those individuals have taken more than $9 million in funds they aren't entitled to the OAG said.

NJ Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewel said nearly $4 million has been recovered.

“Any fraud against public assistance programs is deplorable, but these thefts were especially egregious because they diverted funds intended for victims left homeless by one of the most devastating storms in New Jersey history,” Grewel said.

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