3 charged with theft for bogus Superstorm Sandy aid claims
By: News 12 Staff Apr 27, 2018, 9:42pm Updated on: Apr 27, 2018
Three more New Jersey residents have been charged with filing fraudulent applications for Superstorm Sandy relief.
The new cases were announced Friday by the state Attorney General's Office.
Officials say that Fair Lawn resident Diane DiCosmo falsely claimed a home in Lavallette as a primary residence. She fraudulently collected $177,000, according to the attorney general.
Matawan couple Barry and Karen Benevento were charged with making similar claims.
The three were charged with theft by deception.
If convicted, the defendants could each face up to 10 years in prison.
This now brings the total number of people charged statewide with Superstorm Sandy fraud to 112. Officials say all the false claims are responsible for diverting nearly $7 million in relief funds.