OCEAN COUNTY, NJ – On Friday, Jeffrey Crawford, a 50-year-old resident of Lacey Township, received a three-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison for Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property.
This sentencing, handed down by Honorable Dina M. Vicari, J.S.C, follows Crawford’s guilty plea on October 23, 2023. He is also mandated to pay approximately $70,000 in restitution to the victim.
The case originated in May 2021 when the Toms River Township Police Department was alerted by the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs about a complaint against Crawford’s business, Hercules Renovations, LLC.
Investigations revealed that Crawford had received a $115,000 down payment in September 2020 for a first-floor remodeling project but abandoned the job in March 2021 after causing extensive damage. It was found that Crawford had misused a significant portion of the funds for personal expenses, including over $40,000 in gambling and $30,000 on personal items.
Crawford’s arrest occurred on October 14, 2021, at the Toms River Township Police Department Headquarters.