Five with Shore homes charged with Sandy fraud: here are their alleged scams
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UPDATE: The charges against Joseph Ponsoda, below, were dismissed on March 2, 2020, by a Superior Court judge.
Five people with Shore homes were charged with filing fraudulent claims for superstorm Sandy aid, bringing the total charged under the government’s four-year sweep to 109.
Those charged since March 2014 defrauded the government out of more than $6 million, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s office.
And the state’s effort to uncover Sandy fraud shows no signs of dying.
“DCA remains committed to pursuing people who steal Sandy recovery funds for their own personal gain,” said Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver, commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs.
Here are the latest charged:
David Silva, 64, of Little Egg Harbor allegedly filed fraudulent applications under various programs including the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program. Authorities said he secured $177,225 in relief funds he wasn’t entitled to, including $150,000 from RREM. They allege he falsely claimed to be living at his second home on Spinnaker Drive in the township, damaged by Sandy, but actually lived in Edison. Silva is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
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Appolonia DiPiazza, 53, of Lodi received about $125,159 in FEMA and other relief funds, including $112,889 from RREM. She claimed she lived in her Sandy-damaged weekend and vacation home on East Mohawk Avenue in Little Egg Harbor, but her primary residence was in Lodi, authorities said. DiPiazza is charged with second-degree theft by deception.
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Wayne DesRosiers, 72, of Roseland allegedly received $47,787 from relief funds, including $47,787 from FEMA. DesRosiers claimed a vacation and seasonal home on Newark Avenue in Lavallette, damaged by Sandy, was his primary residence while actually residing in Roseland, authorities said. DesRosiers is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
UPDATE NOTE: Chages were dismissed by the court on March 2, 2020.
Joseph Ponsoda, 33, of Belle Mead received $26,992 in relief funds, including $14,172 in rental assistance, authorities said. He allegedly claimed his primary residence, damaged by Sandy, was on Pershing Boulevard in Lavallette, when it was actually in Belle Mead. He is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
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Nancy Nocera, 60, of Brielle allegedly received $12,270 in FEMA and other relief funds. Nocera claimed that a Sandy-damaged home she owns on Chester Avenue in Brielle was her primary residence when it was actually in Staten Island, New York, authorities said. Nocera is charged with third-degree theft by deception.
DiPiazza's attorney, Kenneth A. Porro, declined to comment. William P. Cunningham, the attorney for Nocera, also declined comment. It was unknown if Posonda has hired an attorney. The lawyers for the other defendants could not be immediately reached.
Ken Serrano: 732-643-4029; kserrano@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Five with Shore homes charged with superstorm Sandy fraud
