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Ambler man charged with stealing FEMA Sandy funds

A Montgomery County man was charged Wednesday in federal court with using phony documents to collect more than $250,000 in FEMA-backed disaster benefits and insurance payments intended for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief, prosecutors said.

Parts of Harvey Cedars, N.J., lie under water on Oct. 30, 2012, a day after Hurricane Sandy blew across the New Jersey barrier islands.
Parts of Harvey Cedars, N.J., lie under water on Oct. 30, 2012, a day after Hurricane Sandy blew across the New Jersey barrier islands.Read moreCLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer

A Montgomery County man was charged Wednesday in federal court in Camden with using phony documents to collect more than $250,000 in FEMA-backed disaster benefits and insurance payments intended for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief, prosecutors said.

Nicholas Ochs, 54, of Ambler, was charged by indictment with one count of disaster benefit fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and one count of theft of government funds.

Ochs' mother lived in a house in Ocean City that was severely damaged in the October 2012 storm. In January 2013, Ochs, on behalf of his mother, filed for FEMA assistance, but was denied because the property was covered by flood insurance.

Ochs then submitted fraudulent documents saying that the insurance provider had denied his mother's claim, prosecutors said. Ultimately, he collected $21,574 in FEMA benefits and used the money for his own personal expenses.

His mother's insurance provider paid $231,160, ultimately paid by FEMA, which backed insurance payments for disaster-related expenses.

The mortgage holder, Wells Fargo, held $169,518 in escrow. Ochs submitted fraudulent invoices and forms to Wells Fargo that over-inflated work performed on the house, prosecutors said. He eventually received the escrow funds and used them for his personal expenses.

Prosecutors said Ochs defrauded FEMA of a total of $252,734.

The disaster benefits fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, as does each count of wire fraud. The theft of government funds count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.