Lakehurst Resident Admits to Deception in Theft Case
August 28, 2023
In a significant development in Ocean County, New Jersey, Robert Cohan, a 36-year-old resident of Lakehurst, has pleaded guilty before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C. to the charge of Theft by Deception. The announcement was made by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. At the time of his sentencing on October 27, 2023, the State will be seeking a term of eight years in New Jersey State Prison for Cohan, along with a restitution amount of approximately $220,000 to be paid to multiple victims.
The case against Cohan emerged from an investigation conducted by the Toms River Township Police Department. According to the findings, between February 2022 and May 2022, Cohan, under the pretense of being a relative of a legitimate contracting business owner, targeted residents of the Gardens of Pleasant Plains, an age-restricted community in Toms River. Cohan lured these individuals into engaging his services for exterior work on their residences and then proceeded to perform little to no work. As a result, he succeeded in stealing a staggering $200,000 from over ten unsuspecting victims. On June 23, 2022, Cohan was apprehended by Detectives from the Toms River Township Police Department on charges of Theft by Deception. However, he was subsequently released due to New Jersey’s Bail Reform.
A subsequent investigation by the Berkeley Township Police Department uncovered another troubling episode involving Cohan. In September 2022, Cohan approached an elderly victim at a bank in Berkeley Township, assuming a false identity. Initially, he managed to solicit a small amount of money from the victim. In return, Cohan offered to perform a small task on her property instead of paying back the borrowed sum. Armed with the knowledge of the victim’s address, Cohan began frequently visiting her and requesting larger sums of money on various pretexts, including funeral expenses for his supposed deceased father-in-law. Exploiting the victim’s trust, Cohan further convinced her to accompany him to different banks and withdraw substantial sums of money from her account through credit card cash advances. In total, Cohan managed to fraudulently obtain approximately $20,000 from this victim. The subsequent investigation revealed that Cohan’s father-in-law was, in fact, alive, and the money Cohan received was obtained through deceit. Consequently, Cohan faced another charge of Theft by Deception, leading to the revocation of his previous release under Bail Reform. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since October 5, 2022, following his apprehension by Detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer expressed his gratitude for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler and Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano, who tirelessly pursued the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor also commended the Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit for their collaborative efforts and invaluable assistance throughout the investigation.
These shocking revelations serve as a stark reminder of the importance of remaining cautious and vigilant when engaging in financial transactions and trusting individuals with our hard-earned money. The case against Robert Cohan highlights the need for increased awareness and scrutiny to protect vulnerable members of our society from falling victim to such deceitful practices. As the legal proceedings against Cohan continue, the residents of Ocean County can only hope for justice to be served, ensuring that such perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
