Search underway for Shore contractor accused of scamming homeowners

Authorities are searching for a Jersey Shore contractor who allegedly scammed a dozen homeowners.

Peter Rinaldi, 56, of Little Egg Harbor, is wanted for second degree theft by deception and second degree theft by failure to make require disposition of property received, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced.

After an indictment was issued for the charges, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crimes Unit attempted to serve a complaint summons on Rinaldi, who could not be located at any of his listed addresses, Coronato said.

The indictment alleges that Rinaldi, who operated under the company names of Donovan Mark Custom Builders, LLC and Mark Anthony Custom Builders, LLC,  took approximately $247,000 from 12 victims from July 2014 through August 2016 for proposed construction projects at their private residences.

He then allegedly “spent the monies on his personal benefit and gain” and “did not provide any materials, supplies and/or labor for said monies,” Coronato said.

Anyone with information regarding Rinaldi’s whereabouts is asked to contact Ocean County Prosecutor Economic Crimes Det. James Conroy at 732-814-1697, their local police or the US Marshals Service by e-mail at usms.wanted@usdoj.gov.