A New Jersey judge ordered Kevin O. Crafton detained pending trial after his Sept. 30, 2026, Superior Court appearance, according to an October 6 report by the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, republished by AOL. Prosecutors reportedly allege that homeowners lost more than $360,000 in a home-repair deception scheme. The charges are allegations, not proof of guilt.
What is the contractor accused of?
Brigantine police charged Crafton, a 49-year-old Egg Harbor Township resident, in an investigation involving LDC Design and Construction, the report says. Prosecutors reportedly allege he deceived homeowners by claiming they faced fines, legal fees and permitting costs connected to repair work.
According to the report, the homeowners hired Crafton in September 2024. They told investigators he identified multiple structural defects and, over the following 22 months, said they had to pay various costs. Prosecutors allege that more than $360,000 was taken from homeowners through purported fines and penalties.
What details does the report attribute to investigators?
The report says the investigation began in late July after a homeowner reported alleged theft by deception. It describes a police affidavit in which Detective Peter Rao said the homeowners provided five phone numbers used to contact them. The numbers were reportedly associated with TextNow and linked to an account established in Crafton’s name.
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The report also says prosecutors allege Crafton impersonated an architect, an engineer and an attorney. These details are investigative assertions and allegations as recounted by the newspaper; they are not established here as court findings.
What charges are reported?
The article lists second-degree theft by deception, impersonation, computer criminal activity, forgery and falsifying records. It also says police filed eight charges on Sept. 8. The report names five charge categories but does not provide the charging document, so it is not possible to determine from the article how the eight charges relate to those categories.
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The report notes that second-degree crimes in New Jersey carry a potential prison term of up to 10 years. That is a general statutory range cited in the report, not a prediction of an outcome or sentence in this case.
Why is Crafton in jail?
After Crafton appeared in Superior Court in Mays Landing on Sept. 30, 2026, a judge ordered him detained pending trial, according to the Courier-Post report’s account of an Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office statement. Detention pending trial is not a conviction or sentence.
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What happens next?
The report does not provide a later docket update, a trial date, or a response from Crafton or his defense. The next court events and the case’s eventual outcome therefore cannot be confirmed from the available account. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson is identified in the article as prosecuting the case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can potential additional victims contact police?
The report says Brigantine police asked anyone who believes they may have been affected to contact Detective Peter Rao at 609-264-7909 or [email protected]. Because contact details can change, confirm them with Brigantine police before relying on them.
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The charges remain allegations, and Crafton is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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