Prosecutor: Out-of-state contractor defrauded 14 Jersey Shore homeowners
Jamie Lawson. (Image courtesy of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)
An out-of-state contractor was indicted for taking money from 14 Jersey Shore homeowners and then either performing no work or less than the contracted services, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced.
Authorities allege that Jamie Lawson, 41, owner of Lawson Renovations, LLC/J & N Construction defrauded homeowners in Toms River and Brick and used the money for vehicles and personal expenses.
Lawson moved to New Jersey shortly after Superstorm Sandy and subsequently became a state licensed home improvement contractor, Coronato said, adding that Lawson failed to disclose criminal convictions in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
He was indicted on second-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity (money laundering), six counts of second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition, nine counts of third-degree theft by failure to make required disposition third-degree, third-degree tampering with public records for submitting a fictitious home improvement contractor application, and fourth-degree unregistered home improvement contracting.
Bail is set at $150,000. Lawson is restricted from engaging in home improvement and building contracts and must surrender his passport.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who believes they have been defrauded by Lawson is asked to contract Sgt. Mark Malinowski of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027 x4032.
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