Bergen Man Charged With Superstorm Sandy Fraud: Attorney General

A Bergen County man has been charged with theft for allegedly filing fraudulent applications for government relief following Superstorm Sandy.

Peter Raia Jr., 51, of Lodi allegedly received nearly $38,000 in relief funds to which he was entitled, the state Attorney General's Office announced. He was charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Raia allegedly filed fraudulent applications for FEMA assistance, a low-interest disaster-relief loan, and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program.

Raia allegedly falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns in Seaside Heights, which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence when Sandy struck, Grewal said.

Authorities allege that Raia's primary residence was in Lodi and the home in Seaside Heights was a weekend property, Grewal said.

Three other people were recently charged, along with Raia, bringing the total number of defendants charged by the Attorney General's Office to 120 since March 2014.

“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,” said Grewal. “We have recovered over $2.2 million through these prosecutions and we also have sent a strong message that should deter this type of fraud during future disaster relief efforts.”

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Peter Raia Jr., 51, of Lodi (Attorney General's Office)