Belmar Man Indicted On Theft Charge Connected To Golf Trip

BELMAR, NJ – A 56-year-old Belmar man was one of two men indicted for a six-figure theft connected to a contracted trip for eight people to attend a golf tournament that never materialized, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Thursday.

John Donadio and Michael Moyer, 56, of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged with second-degree theft, which carries a term of five to 10 years in prison if convicted.

An investigation by the Belmar Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office determined that the primary victim in the case entered into a contract with Belmar-based Eclipse Global Events, a company ran by the defendants, for a trip to the 2019 Masters golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia.

The contracted charge for the trip was more than $126,000, including lodging, tickets (for both practice and tournament rounds), hospitality events, and local transportation for all eight travelers. Yet shortly after the amount was paid in full and immediately before the event, the victim was told that their payment was late and that he would not be receiving the trip nor a refund.

A Monmouth County Grand Jury returned the indictment late last month, and Donadio turned himself in on Oct. 1, with Moyer doing so five days later.

Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Anastos is prosecuting the case. Thomas Huth, Esq, is representing Donadio, while attorney information for Moyer was not immediately available.

Anyone with additional information about Donadio or Moyer is asked to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Acquaviva, at 1-800-533-7443.