OCEAN COUNTY – Two Toms River residents were charged with theft and one Brick resident with attempted theft according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Billhimer announced Robert Tindall, 46 and Leanna Guido, 47, both of Toms River, were charged with theft and Jeffrey Dampf, 69, of Brick Township, was charged with attempted theft.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit revealed that Dampf, in his capacity as the Power of Attorney and accountant for two elderly siblings, was misappropriating funds entrusted to him for the care of the two elderly victims.
Dampf attempted to electronically transfer $500,000 to an investment account from the elderly victim’s bank account for his own personal benefit.
The transfer was flagged, however, and the money was not transferred from the victims’ account. Additionally, Dampf hired Tindall and Guido as home healthcare aides for the elderly siblings – despite their lack of credentials.
The Prosecutor explained that the investigation revealed: “within the last year, Tindall and Guido received funds they were not entitled to in an amount exceeding $1.5 million. These funds were misappropriated via check or electronic transfer executed by Dampf.
The funds misappropriated by check and electronic transfer were drafted to appear as though they were legitimate reimbursements for monies expended for the care and benefit of the elderly victims.
There were also large payouts purported to be gifts authorized by the elderly victims. The elderly victims were not of sound mind to authorize checks, electronic transfers or gifts and as such they are not legitimate.
Furthermore, neither Tindall nor Guido are licensed home healthcare aides in the State of New Jersey.
Both Tindall and Guido were taken into custody without incident on October 29, 2020. Both Tindall and Guido are currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing. Dampf was charged on a summons today; he was processed and released pending a future court date.
“These three defendants preyed upon elderly and vulnerable individuals who relied upon their purported caretakers to actually care for them and have their best interests at heart. Instead, they betrayed the victims’ trust. We must always stand up for and protect those that cannot protect themselves,” Prosecutor Billhimer added.
Prosecutor Billhimer urges anyone who believes they may have been victimized by these defendants to contact Sergeant Ray Gardner or Detective Eric Ludwick of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit at 732-929-2027, Ext. 3070.
Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department, and Toms River Township Police Department for their collective assistance relative to this extensive investigation resulting in these charges.
