2 Sandy contractors charged with theft

Two contractors hired by homeowners seeking to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey are facing theft changes, authorities say.

Paul Rueda, 46, of League City, Texas and John F. Bishop, 54, formerly of Ocean County were charged with second degree theft by failure to make required disposition, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Rueda was taken into custody in Texas and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey, while Bishop, whose last known address is in Celebration, Florida, remains at large, prosecutors say.

Authorities allege that Rueda, the owner of PKR Construction, stole more than $75,000 from four Ocean County homeowners as part of separate construction projects. Three of the homeowners needed construction services due to Sandy storm damage.

Bishop, the owner of John Paul Builders, allegedly stole more than $75,000 from six Ocean County homeowners as part of separate construction projects to build new homes or repair damage after Sandy, according to prosecutors.

In both cases, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office says the investigations began after the homeowners reported that the contracting work for which they had paid was never completed.

Anyone with information about Bishop’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit at 732-929-2027 x3462 or the United States Marshals Service via email at usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.