By John Burton
FREEHOLD – A Sea Bright man pleaded guilty in Superior Court yesterday, admitting he committed fraud by obtaining federal Super Storm Sandy relief money for temporary shelter in the storm’s aftermath.
William Nagle, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception for defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of more than $12,000 from the agency’s Transitional Shelter Assistance program, according to Charles Webster, public information officer for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to authorities, Nagle, who had been living in a Center Street apartment in Sea Bright, wound up spending 68 nights in various hotels from Jan. 14 through March 23, 2013, while his apartment was presumably being repair. But Nagle received a certificate of occupancy (CO) from the landlord on Dec. 29, 2012, indicating his apartment was available for his return.
As a provision of his negotiated plea agreement, Nagle is expected to receive a probationary sentence conditioned upon 68 days in jail and restitution for the amount he defrauded the government when he returns to court on April 17, according to Webster.
