Motel owner sentenced for stealing Superstorm Sandy funds

Sunday, November 6, 2016
TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- A New Jersey motel owner who stole more than $81,000 in federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming he had sheltered Superstorm Sandy victims is now headed to prison.

Sandipkumar Patel received a three-year sentence Friday. The 44-year-old Edison man had pleaded guilty in September to theft by deception and has paid full restitution.
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RELATED: Dozens charged with Sandy fraud since 2014


State authorities say Patel fraudulently took $81,567 from a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that paid hotels and motels for rooms temporarily occupied by victims.

Patel and his wife own the American Motel in Toms River.
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Authorities say Patel falsely billed FEMA for 11 supposed victims, including eight of whom never stayed at the motel. The three others stayed for shorter periods than were billed or shared a room that Patel had already billed to FEMA.

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Pictured: Damage in Ortley Beach, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Ortley Beach, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Ocean City, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Ocean City, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Ocean City, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Avalon, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Avalon, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Brandt Beach, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Fenwick Island, Delaware after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in Mantoloking, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Pictured: Damage in West Creek, N.J. after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
Ortley Beach in New Jersey was dealt a heavy blow by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.none
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