Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 3, 2024, Adam Nevius, 49, of Manahawkin, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to five years New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition. Judge Ryan also ordered Nevius to pay $594,607.25 in restitution to his victims. Nevius pled guilty to the charge before Judge Ryan on June 19, 2023.
A thorough and extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad revealed that Nevius and his wife, Kimberly Atkinson, 55, also of Manahawkin, owned and operated Coastal Restorations of New Jersey, LLC. Between September 1, 2014 and June 16, 2017, Nevius – as representative of Coastal Restoration – entered into contracts with at least 17 victim homeowners and two sub-contractors for repairs on their homes, most of which were damaged by Super Storm Sandy. Despite receiving almost $700,000 from the victims for the repairs, Coastal Restoration did little to no work on the homes. Instead, Nevius utilized the funds for his own personal benefit.
On April 2, 2019, Nevius was taken into custody at his residence without incident, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. Nevius was originally to be sentenced by Judge Ryan on August 25, 2023, but failed to appear in court that date; as such, a warrant for his arrest was issued. On March 14, 2024, Nevius was taken into custody in Lafayette, Indiana by the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department. On March 26, 2024, Nevius was extradited to New Jersey, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since March 29, 2024.
Kimberly Atkinson was likewise charged with Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition as well as Theft by Deception on April 2, 2019. She was taken into custody at her residence without incident, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. Nevius exonerated Atkinson at the time of his guilty plea on June 19, 2023; as such, the charges against Atkinson were dismissed by Judge Ryan at the time of Nevius’ sentencing.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler and Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs, Stafford Township Police Department, Ship Bottom Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, Surf City Heights Police Department, and Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, Lafayette, Indiana for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Nevius’ guilty plea, and now his state prison sentence.