TOMS RIVER – A Salem, New Jersey, man was convicted of theft and unregistered contracting.
Robert Cardell, 55, was found guilty on eight counts each of theft by deception and unregistered home improvement contracting. Cardell can serve up to five years per theft conviction and 18 months per his other convictions.
Starting in September 2016 and continuing through the next April, Cardell approached eight Ocean County residents, representing himself as a fully insured and licensed home improvement contractor. Most of those residents were elderly. Cardell secured deposits but never returned to start work. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Cardell fabricated stories on why he was unable to start work. In several instances, Cardell approached some victims to ask for more money, claiming he spent the deposit on hospital bills for an injured grandson.
Cardell was jailed pending his trial, where he now awaits sentencing.
