Contractor Accused Of Sandy Fraud Arrested In Galloway

TOMS RIVER, NJ - A Little Egg Harbor contractor who went on the lam in March after he was charged with bilking 12 customers out of $247,224 for work he never did was arrested in Galloway Township, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Peter Rinaldi, 56, was arrested near the Baymont Inn on White Horse Pike on Friday, after authorities received a tip he was staying the area, said spokesman Al Della Fave.

Rinaldi, who was previously indicted for second-degree theft by deception and second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, was arrested on April 6. He was reported wanted on March 29, after detectives from the Prosecutor's Office's Economic Crimes Unit could not find him to serve him the complaint summons, he said.

Some of the victims were Superstorm Sandy victims, Della Fave said.

Rinaldi was indicted for taking a total of $247, 224 from Ocean County victims from July 2014 through August 2016 for construction work at their homes. He operated under the company names of Donovan Mark Custom Builders, LLC and Mark Anthony Custom Builders, he said.

Rinald is now lodged in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, awaiting a future court hearing.

The investigation is continuing. The Prosecutor's Office is asking anyone who signed a contract with Rinaldi and has uncompleted work to contact Detective James Conroy at 732-814-1697, Della Fave said.

Photo: Courtesy of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office