TOMS RIVER – A 35-year-old man has been criminally charged in connection to a home improvement contracting scheme targeting township residents, police said.
Robert Cohan, 35, of Lakehurst, was charged was with 2nd Degree Theft by Deception as well as multiple counts of unregistered home improvement contracting.
According to police, Cohan’s scheme began in February then continued through May and he specifically approached residents of the Gardens of Pleasant Plains.
Cohan would solicit residents to do driveway, sidewalk, as well as roof, door and other home repairs. In that time, he collected more than $150,000 from his victims.
Toms River Police Spokesperson Jillian Messina said that Cohan would collect an initial deposit, then return later and solicit more money but never performed any of the promised work.
In addition, he fraudulently used the name of his family’s construction company name in the scheme.
On June 23, Detective Robert O’Neill arrested and charged Cohan. Criminal charges for 2nd Degree Theft by Deception were approved by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Cohan was remanded to the Ocean County Jail where he remains pending a detention hearing.
