Superstorm Sandy contractor gets 5-year prison term for scamming homeowners

A contractor convicted of scamming eight New Jersey homeowners out of more than $247,000 following Superstorm Sandy has been sentenced to five years in state prison, officials say.

Peter Rinaldi, 57, of Little Egg Harbor must also pay full restitution of $247,224.63 to the victims under the sentence imposed Friday in the Ocean County Superior Court in Toms River, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Authorities say Rinaldi operated under the companies Donovan Mark Custom Builders and Michael Anthony Custom Builders.

Between July 2014 and August 2016, Rinaldi was contracted for renovations at private homes in Little Egg Harbor, Toms River, Ship Bottom, and Point Pleasant but spent the money on himself and left the projects unfinished, Billhimer said.

Rinaldi was previously sentenced to three years state prison and ordered to pay $34,475 in restitution for theft from a Brick homeowner, according to prosecutors.