Summit Man Scammed $12K In Superstorm Sandy Aid: AG

Summit, NJ - A Summit local was among five people to be charged with filing fake applications for Superstorm Sandy federal relief funds, Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy announced Thursday.

Gordon Sinclair, 40, of Summit, allegedly fraudulently obtained a total of $12,270 by filing false applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA rental assistance and a state grant under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP), according to Lougy.

It is alleged that Sinclair falsely claimed in his applications that a storm-damaged property that he owned on Moonrise Lane in Lavallette, was his primary residence at the time Sandy hit. It is alleged that, in reality, his primary residence was an apartment in Hoboken and the property in Lavallette was a vacation home, according to the report.

Sinclair received a $10,000 RSP grant and $2,270 in FEMA rental assistance.  Sinclair is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Sinclair could face three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000 for the third-degree crime and up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of $10,000 for the  fourth-degree crime.

Four others were also charged Thursday with filing fraudulent applications including:

• Nikola Lulaj, 42, of Seaside Heights, N.J., (formerly of Dumont, N.J.),
• Rachel Bryant, 53, of Philadelphia, Pa., 
• Pat G. Angelastro, 46, of Ortley Beach, N.J.,
• and Catherine Alvira-Przybylski, 45, of Keyport, N.J.,

Since March 2014, the Attorney General’s Office has filed criminal charges against 62 for allegedly engaging in Superstorm Sandy relief fraud.

(Photo from Attorny General's Office: Gordon Sinclair, 40, of Summit)

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