Toms River Woman Charged With $40K Theft From Laurita Winery

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River woman has been charged with theft, accused of stealing more than $40,000 from Laurita Winery while working as a manager at the winery, authorities said Tuesday.

Nancy Proctor, 62, of the Ortley Beach section, was arrested Monday at her current job in Seaside Heights, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Plumsted Township Police Chief Earl Meroney said in a joint announcement.

Proctor had been a manager at Laurita Winery in New Egypt from Jan. 24, 2019 through Nov. 1, 2019, and was responsible for collecting payments from food vendors for events taking place at the winery, authorities said. Instead, they allege, she diverted the monies intended for the winery to her own personal PayPal accounts for her own personal benefit.

Proctor, who was charged with theft by unlawful taking, was taken to the Seaside Heights Police Department, where she was processed and released with a summons pending a court date, the prosecutor's office said.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Plumsted Township Police Department, and Seaside Heights Police Department investigated.

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