Monmouth County Man Filed Phony Sandy Claims And Received $165,000

The state Department of Community Affairs has charged a Monmouth County man with second-degree theft and unsworn falsification after he filed phony claims for Superstorm Sandy damage.

Eric A. Seaberg, 51, of Ocean Township, filed false applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program.

“We charge that these defendants stole from disaster relief programs and by extension from the victims who were hardest hit by the storm,” Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said. “We’ll continue to charge every cheat we identify who diverted funds from these recovery programs and from victims in need.”

He received approximately $165,510 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Seaberg claimed in his applications that a home he owns on Randall Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy was his primary residence when Sandy struck.

However, his primary residence was in Ocean Township. The Point Pleasant Beach home was a rental home.Seaberg received $20,039 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, and RREM grant funds totaling approximately $135,471. He is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Seaberg was one of five cited by the DCA for fradulent Sandy claims, Porrino said.

“The Department of Community Affairs remains committed to helping thwart fraudulent activity as our state continues to recover and rebuild from Superstorm Sandy,” said DCA Commissioner Charles A. Richman. “People who attempt to scam disaster recovery funds do so at the expense of Sandy survivors who legitimately qualify for help, which is why my Department does not hesitate to report suspicious applications to our law enforcement partners.”

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