New Jersey Motel Owner Admits to Stealing $80K in Federal Funds

A motel owner in Toms River has admitted to stealing over $80,000 in federal disaster relief funds meant for Superstorm Sandy victims.

Sandipkumar Patel plead guilty Monday to 'theft by deception' after taking $81,567 from a Federal Emergency Management Agency program.

NBC10 says this program paid hotels and motels for the rooms occupied by Superstorm Sandy victims. While Patel did house victims, it wasn't as many as he claimed.

Although he billed FEMA for 11 victims, in actuality it was only 3. Mind you, these three occupants stood for only a short period of time or shared a room.

Pretty aggravating considering other hotels or motels could have potentially used this help.

Patel is facing three years in jail when sentenced on November 4.

Read the full story on NBC10 Philadelphia.