GUILTY PLEA IN RENTAL SCAM / TAX FILING CHARGE

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced that Keith Boyce, 54, of Ocean Gate, NJ, pled guilty yesterday (3/7) to Theft and Failure to File a State Tax Return on the day he was scheduled for trial.

The plea stems from his indictment by the Grand Jury for Theft and Terroristic Threats against one victim and Theft against a second.  The Tax charge was part of a separate indictment against Boyce and his wife Camilla, 27, for failure to file State Tax returns for a number of years.  The accompanying case indictments are attached.

The investigation by OCPO Economic Crimes Unit found that in January of 2014 Boyce took security deposits and prepaid rent from two women to occupy 1226 Laurel Blvd in Lanoka Harbor, yet then rented and gave occupancy of the same home to a third person.  The victims became suspicious when Boyce demanded additional money before they were allowed to move in.  They then learned that another person was the actual owner and the house was actually in foreclosure.

In the plea agreement Boyce is required to make full restitution of $9200 to the two victims prior to sentencing, which would require him to serve probation in lieu of receiving a jail sentence.  The Tax charge for his wife, Camilla, is pending future court action.  The case was prosecuted by OCPO Senior Assistant Prosecutor William Scharfenberg.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato reminds people to do the proper research and be aware of their rights prior to renting a home.  The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs publishes a “Truth in Renting” handbook that is available at: www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/codes/publications/pdf_lti/t_i_r.pdf.  Individual Judgment Searches can done at: www.njcourts.com under the public resource access tab.

Prosecutor Coronato would like to thank N.J. Division of Taxation and the Lacey Township Police for their assistance and participation in this prosecution.
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