Sandy Contractor Accused Of Fraud Worked In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A contractor who the New Jersey Attorney General's Office says preyed on homeowners damaged by Superstorm Sandy did work in the Middletown area, Patch has learned.

William A. Wolford is accused of deceptively obtaining more than $348,000 in federal relief funds from nine homeowners who sought to have their damaged homes rebuilt, elevated and/or repaired after Superstorm Sandy, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

Wolford and his business — D.J.M. Households Inc., doing business as Jersey Pride Home Renovations — took hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal relief funds, but failed to then do the work, the state AG said.

Wolford and his company did work in Middletown, Keansburg, Wildwood, Manahawkin, Lavallette, Atlantic City, Little Egg Harbor and Toms River.

The business is accused of pressuring customers to sign contracts for renovation, rebuilding and/or elevating Sandy-damaged homes. This was done by presenting contacts with "terms and conditions" that indicated the quoted price for the home improvement work was only valid for 48 hours and that contractor scheduling was on a "first-come, first-served method."

It would then take the money, which included RREM Program or LRRP funds, without performing the work and/or abandoning unfinished projects without returning for weeks, months or at all, authorities said. In fact, authorities say Wolford's business wasn't even registered as a Home Elevation Contractor with the state.