N.J. man indicted in $23,000 FEMA scam

A central New Jersey man accused of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency out of nearly $23,000 has been indicted on two counts of theft by deception.Monmouth County prosecutors say a vacant home in Highlands owned by 59-year-old Martin Kiely was damaged by Hurricane Irene in August 2011 and by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Kiely sought money from FEMA after both storms, allegedly claiming the home was his primary residence. But prosecutors say Kiely, a retired Hoboken police officer, actually lived at another home in Highlands.

The indictment was handed up Tuesday by a Monmouth County grand jury. Kiely faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on both counts.

A telephone number for Kiely could not be located Tuesday. It wasn’t known if he’s retained a lawyer.

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