By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on October 3, Martin D’Amato, 40, of Beachwood, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to seven years in New Jersey State Prison relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Theft in connection with incidents that occurred between April 2019 and September 2021, all in Toms River.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer D’Amato will also be required to make restitution of $1,329,677 to his victims. D’Amato pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on April 21, 2025.
In October 2021, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad was contacted by an automobile dealership located in Toms River regarding a fictitious billing scheme that appeared to have been committed by a former employee, Martin D’Amato, OCPO officials say.
OCPO officials stated that the company reported that D’Amato was in charge of digital advertising for the dealership and that he was authorized to hire freelance advertising and marketing companies to promote the dealership.
The dealership further reported that the fictitious billing scheme came to light after an internal review disclosed that the dealership’s credit card costs had exceeded budgeted amounts, Ocean County officials said.
According to Ocean County officials, a subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad revealed that D’Amato used his position to misappropriate in excess of $1.3 million from the dealership through an elaborate shell company scheme.
D’Amato created multiple limited liability companies under his personal control to create the appearance that he was retaining legitimate advertising and marketing services for the dealership, Ocean County authorities say. He used his position and authority to charge the dealership's corporate credit card for services never rendered by these fictitious shell companies.
Ocean County officials stated that the investigation revealed D’Amato took additional steps to conceal his association with the shell companies by using an online payment processing service to bill the dealership's credit card.
The online payment processing service subsequently transferred the stolen proceeds to accounts controlled by D’Amato, all of which were to be used for his own personal benefit, OCPO authorities said.
Ocean County officials said on September 19, 2022, D’Amato was arrested by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.