3 Charged In $1.5M Theft From Elderly Patients In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two Toms River residents and a Brick Township certified public accountant have been charged in connection with bilking a pair of elderly siblings out of $1.5 million, authorities announced Friday.

Robert Tindall, 46, and Leanna Guido, 47, both of Toms River, and Jeffrey Dampf, 69, of Brick Township, have been arrested and charged in the thefts, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

Dampf, a CPA, was the accountant for a pair of elderly siblings and had power of attorney for them, Billhimer said.

The investigation found Dampf hired Tindall and Guido to care for the siblings, even though they were not certified home health aides, and then transferred more than $1.5 million to them, through checks and through electronic transfers, he said.

The misappropriated funds were drafted to appear as though they were legitimate reimbursements for money spent for the care and benefit of the elderly victims, Billhimer said.

"There were also large payouts purported to be gifts authorized by the elderly victims," Billhimer said, but the victims "were not of sound mind to authorize checks, electronic transfers or gifts, and as such they are not legitimate."

The investigation started after Dampf tried to transfer $500,000 to an investment account from the elderly victim’s bank account for his own personal benefit. The transfer was flagged, however, and the money was not transferred from the victims’ account, Billhimer said.

Tindall and Guido have been charged with theft and were arrested Thursday. They are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. Dampf was charged with attempted theft and conspiracy to commit theft. He was arrested Friday and released to await a court date.

"These three defendants preyed upon elderly and vulnerable individuals who relied upon their purported caretakers to actually care for them and have their best interests at heart," Billhimer said. "Instead, they betrayed the victims’ trust."

"We must always stand up for and protect those that cannot protect themselves," he said.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Dampf, Tindall and Guido is urged to contact Sergeant Ray Gardner or Detective Eric Ludwick of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit at 732-929-2027, extension 3070.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes and High Tech Crime units, the Brick Township Police Department, and the Toms River Township Police Department investigated.

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