North Jersey to South Jersey. Black and white. Men and women. Young and old.

They are the faces of Superstorm Sandy fraud.

In the years since the storm decimated Jersey's coast in 2012, prosecutors have charged 96 current and former state residents with defrauding the government and victims of Sandy.

In the latest batch of charges, officials say five more people were caught applying for relief or low-interest disaster loans for which they were not eligible.

Edward Barlotta, 65, of Cape Coral, Florida, received approximately $171,099 in relief funds from the Homeowner Resettlement Program, the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program, and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program. Officials say he falsely claimed that his vacation home on Beach Avenue in Long Branch, which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence. He was charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Thomas Dooney, 65, of Ramsey, received $137,827 in relief funds from the Homeowner Resettlement Program, the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program, and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program. He also applied for a $143,000 SBA loan. Officials say he claimed his vacation home on Bower Drive in Brick as his primary residence. He was charged with second-degree theft by deception, second-degree attempted theft by deception, and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Walter G. Ribeiro, Jr., 63, of Deptford, received $41,302 in relief funds from the Homeowner Resettlement Program. Officials say he claimed his vacation home on Calvert Street in Ventnor as his primary residence. He was charged with third-degree theft by deception.

Joan Galetta, 74, of Sayreville, received $19,969 in relief funds from Homeowner Resettlement Program. Officials say she claimed her vacation home on 24th Avenue in Seaside Park as her primary residence. She was charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

Linda Petersack-Kunz, 56, of Ewing, received $17,743 in Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program funds for a home on Judy Drive in Manahawkin, which she claimed was her primary residence, officials say. Authorities said she has repaid a $10,000 RSP grant and an SBA loan of $116,300. She was charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.

After the storm, New Jersey received $2.3 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant funds, including $215 million for the Homeowner Resettlement Program and $1.1 billion for the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program.

“We’ll continue to charge every cheat we identify who diverted funds from these recovery programs and from victims in need," state Attorney General Christopher Porrino said Friday.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.

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