Jersey Shore Contractor Who Stole Nearly $700K From Sandy Victims Sentenced: Prosecutors

An Ocean County contractor will spend time in prison after admitting to stealing nearly $700,000 in funds meant to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, authorities said.

Adam Nevius, 49, of Manahawkin, was sentenced on Friday, May 3 to five years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. He pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition on Monday, June 19, 2023.

Nevius and his wife, 55-year-old Kimberly Atkinson of Manahawkin, owned Coastal Restorations of New Jersey, LLC. Investigators said between Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, and Friday, June 16, 2017, Nevius entered contracts with at least 17 homeowners and two subcontractors for repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Prosecutors said Coastal Restoration received almost $700,000 from the victims. The company did "little to no" repair work and Nevius pocketed the money for himself.

Nevius and Atkinson were arrested at their home on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2019. The couple was brought to the Ocean County Jail and released on bail.

Nevius was originally scheduled for sentencing on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, but he didn't appear in court. He was arrested in Lafayette, Indiana, on Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024, and extradited to New Jersey on Tuesday, Mar. 26.

Nevius has been held in the Ocean County Jail since Friday, Mar. 29. Atkinson's charges were dismissed when Nevius pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors also said Nevius will have to pay $594,607.25 in restitution to his victims.