TOMS RIVER – A Lacey man pleaded guilty to misusing funds and neglecting a home remodeling job, as announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer on Monday.
Jeffrey Crawford, 50, misappropriated over $40,000 that was meant for home remodeling and spent an additional $30,000 on personal items instead of using it for the intended project. The victim, whose home sustained significant damage due to Crawford’s negligence, is expected to receive $70,000 in restitution.
Concerns about Crawford’s business, Hercules Renovations LLC, were raised by the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs in May 2021. The Toms River Police Department subsequently launched an investigation.
The investigation focused on a contract Crawford had entered into in September 2020 for remodeling the first floor of the victim’s home. Crawford received a down payment of $115,000, but he abandoned the project in March 2021, leaving behind damage to the house.
It was discovered that a significant portion of the funds given to Crawford had been used for personal expenses, including $40,000 on gambling in Atlantic City. In total, Crawford misused approximately $70,000 of the payments he received for the renovations.
On October 14, 2021, Crawford was arrested at Toms River Police Headquarters and released on a summons pending the outcome of the case in state Superior Court. He has since pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced on January 12, 2023.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler is representing the state in this case.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lacey NJ contractor admits he gambled away part of client’s money
