TOMS RIVER – An Ortley Beach man was sentenced to five years in prison for tricking his friend out of $211,415.98 on an investment scheme.
John Hammond, 70, also has to pay his victim back, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police said that between May of 2017 and February of 2019, Hammond convinced his friend to invest that money with him and he’ll get large returns. Hammond even created fraudulent documents purporting to be from Fidelity Investments. When Toms River Police investigated, they learned that the money was never invested and he was spending it on himself.
Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau for their efforts in connection with this investigation resulting in Hammond’s guilty plea, and now his state prison sentence.
