Sewell Man Admits Theft in Solar Panel Job

PRESS RELEASE
October 17 , 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO

Albert R. Coccia Jr. (DOB 11/1/69) of 24 Marni Ct., Sewell NJ pleaded guilty today (10/17) to a charge of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, admitting he received a $12,000 deposit to install solar panels on the roof of a Deptford home in 2009 and never did the installation.

As a result of the negotiated plea to the third-degree crime, Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Joseph Brook will recommend that Coccia be sentenced to probation, with the number of years to be at the sentencing judge’s discretion, and that he make restitution to the victim.

“You did accept a check for $12,000?” asked Superior Court Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson. “That is correct, yes,” said Coccia. “We never got to put the system in.” Coccia said state delays in the way rebate forms were to be filed held up the job. He also said codefendant Matthew J. Milano, of Philadelphia, was an independent contractor for Solar World, Coccia’s firm, and did not have control of the funds received.

Judge Allen-Jackson scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16.