Manahawkin Man Charged With Sandy Fraud: State Attorney General

TRENTON- A Manahawkin man has been charged with filing phony claims for Superstorm Sandy Assistance, when he did not live in the affected home, State Attorney General Christopher Porrino said.

Carlos Paul Terzian, 54, filed fraudulent applications for FEMA assistance and a grant from the state's Homeowner Resettlement Program. He was one of four charged by the Attorney General's Office recently for filing false Sandy claims.

“Stealing any type of public aid is reprehensible, but it’s especially egregious to steal relief funds in the context of a historic disaster, when every dollar is needed for recovery,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We’ll continue to pursue these prosecutions with our state and federal partners, so we can guard these funds and deter this type of criminal conduct in future emergencies.”

Terzian received approximately $30,021 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Terzian claimed in his applications that a home he owns on Joshua Drive in Manahawkin was his primary residence when Superstorm Sandy struck.

Investigation revealed the Joshua Drive home was not his primary residence and had been unoccupied when Sandy hit. His primary residence was at another home in Manahawkin.

Terzian received approximately $20,021 in FEMA grants and a $10,000 RSP grant. He is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Image: Patch file photo.