LITTLE EGG HARBOR -- A township couple was indicted Monday on charges of conspiracy and money laundering for allegedly bilking Hurricane Sandy victims out of nearly $1 million in relief funds.
Jeffrey Colmyer, 41, and Tiffany Cimino, 33, are accused of using their home improvement companies, Rayne Construction Management Services and Colmyer & Sons, to take more than $1 million in construction jobs that they failed to complete or even start, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced in a statement.
In turn, the statement said, the couple used $700,000 to gamble at casinos in Atlantic City and purchase personal items. In one case, Cimino used the funds to buy a $17,000 diamond ring, authorities said.
Most of the relief funds came from the state's Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program, better known as the RREM program. Through the RREM program, homeowners are able to receive grants up to $150,000 to help rebuild their Sandy-ravaged houses.
In New Jersey, authorities have charged nearly 100 individuals with fraud related to Sandy relief funds. Porrino called this case "the most egregious" his office has seen.
Colmyer and Cimino, who were arrested in October 2016, were charged with conspiracy, money laundering, tampering with public records or information, failure to make required disposition of property received, misconduct by a corporate official and other offenses related to filing fraudulent tax returns.
Both defendants are out of jail after each posted $150,000 bail.
The state Division of Community Affairs has given out an additional $776,000 in federal relief funds to the victims to hire new contractors.
If convicted of the most serious charges, Colmyer and Comino face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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