MONMOUTH COUNTY — The owner of a now-defunct Englishtown auto-body repair shop has been charged with stealing more than $42,000 from insurance companies, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced.
Barry Barbella, 67, of Howell, faces multiple third-degree charges, including forgery, theft and uttering a forged instrument, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities allege that beginning in September 2023, Barbella repeatedly deposited insurance claim checks into a business account for Franklin Auto Body Inc., even though no repair work had been performed on the vehicles tied to those claims. Investigators said the activity occurred at least six times and resulted in $42,265 being improperly obtained.
Prosecutors said the money was used to meet payroll obligations and pay for personal living expenses, with some funds withdrawn in cash. In one instance, investigators allege Barbella forged a customer’s signature on the back of a claim check to facilitate the deposit.
Barbella was served with the charges by summons last week and is expected to appear in Monmouth County Superior Court at a later date.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Debra Bassinder at 800-533-7443.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen, who leads the office’s Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit. Barbella is represented by attorney Stephen McGuckin of Toms River.
As with all criminal cases, Barbella is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
