State Charges Beach Haven Man With Sandy Fraud

The state Attorney eneral's Office has charged a Beach Haven man for filing phony claims for state and federal grants after Superstorm Sandy.

Brian J. Kotowich, 57, of Beach Haven received $187,881 in FEMA and Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program funds. He has been charged with theft by deception, the state says.

Kotowich falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns on West Connecticut Avenue in Beach Haven damaged by Superstorm Sandy was his primary residence when Sandy struck. His primary residence at the time of the storm was in Langhorne, Pa.

Kotowich has since moved to the house in Beach Haven, but at the time of the storm, it was an investment property that was largely unoccupied, according to the state.

Kotowich received $27,033 from FEMA and a total of $160,848 in RREM grant funds.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

So far the state has charged 116 people with filing bogus claims for Sandy assistance.

Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey State Attorney General's Office.