Warrant Issued for Toms River Man Charged in Sandy Scam

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Toms River man after he was charged with theft for failing to deliver natural gas-powered electrical generators to customers who paid for the items in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Wednesday.

The arrest warrant was issued by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley after Brian Nogiewich, 54, of Toms River, failed to surrender to authorities when he became the target of a joint investigation by members of the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force.

"Nogiewich has continued to evade authorities since failing to surrender after telling investigators he was in the state of Delaware and would return to New Jersey," the statement from the prosecutor's office said.

Additional information has led investigators to believe he may also be in Upstate New York, authorities said.

Prosecutors have said Nogiewich accepted payments from two Monmouth County residents in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, but failed to either deliver the natural gas-powered generators they purchased or refund his customers’ money. One person paid Nogiewich a deposit of just under $3,000, while the second victim paid him more than $4,700 for the power plant, it is alleged.

An investigation into the matter also revealed an application by Nogiewich to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for a Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number contained false information, authorities say.

Nogiewich is facing two counts of third degree theft by deception and one count of fourth degree failure to register with Division of Consumer Affairs.