TOMS RIVER, NJ — Robert Cohan, 36, was sentenced to eight years in New Jersey State Prison for Theft by Deception on October 27, as announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Cohan will also be required to pay restitution of approximately $220,000 to multiple victims.
Cohan entered a guilty plea to the charge before Judge Kimarie Rahill on August 28. An investigation led by the Toms River Township Police Department found that Cohan targeted residents in the Gardens of Pleasant Plains, an age-restricted community, between February and May 2022. Posing as a relative of a legitimate contractor, he offered exterior home improvement services but performed little to no work, defrauding more than 10 victims of approximately $200,000.
Cohan was initially charged with Theft by Deception on June 23, 2022, and later released due to New Jersey Bail Reform.
In a separate, unrelated case, the Berkeley Township Police Department discovered that Cohan defrauded an elderly victim of approximately $20,000 in September 2022. Using a false identity, Cohan approached the victim at a bank and solicited money, promising to perform a small task on her property. Cohan then continued to visit the victim and solicited larger sums of money, including for funeral expenses for his purportedly deceased father-in-law. Further investigation revealed that Cohan’s father-in-law was alive, leading to an additional charge of Theft by Deception.
As a result of this second charge, Cohan’s previous release under Bail Reform was revoked. He has been in custody at the Ocean County Jail since October 5, 2022.