3 charged with theft for bogus Superstorm Sandy aid claims | Office of Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Date Published

April 30, 2018

News Type

Article

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News 12 New Jersey

(Source:News 12 New Jersey) TRENTON, N.J. - 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.