By John Burton
FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has obtained an arrest warrant for a Toms River man who authorities say failed to deliver natural gas-powered generators to customers who paid for them in the immediate aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.
The warrant is for Brian Nogiewich, 54, who failed to surrender to authorities after he became the target of an investigation by the FBI and prosecutor’s office’s Super Storm Sandy Fraud Task Force, according to Charles Webster, prosecutor’s office public information officer.
Nogiewich has been charged with two counts of third-degree theft by deception and one count of fourth-degree of failure to register with the state as a home improvement contractor.
Webster said Nogiewich allegedly was evading authorities by first telling investigators he was in Delaware but was returning to New Jersey. Investigators believe Nogiewich may be in Upstate New York, according to Webster.
The prosecutor’s office is asking anyone with any information about Norgiewich’s whereabouts to contact detective Elethia Baldwin at 732-431-7160 or call toll-free 1-800-533-7443.
Authorities allege Nogiewich solicited and took payments from two Monmouth County homeowners, claiming to be able to obtain the generators in the wake of last October’s storm and never delivered or refunded the money.
One resident paid Nogiewich just under $3,000, with the other paying $4,700, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Law enforcement officials also allege Nogiewich provided false information about his registration to the state Division of Community Affairs as a home improvement contractor.
