A Mount Laurel man has been charged after authorities say he secretly took control of a Jackson Township resident’s $300,000 home equity line of credit, funneled the money into an investment account, and allegedly impersonated the victim’s mortgage company to keep the scheme going.
Stephen Intrieri, 44, was charged on May 21 with theft by unlawful taking and impersonation following a months-long investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Squad.
According to investigators, the victim had taken out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) against his property in October 2025, intending to invest part of the funds with Intrieri.
But authorities allege Intrieri quietly took control of the entire process.
Investigators said Intrieri completed the HELOC application in the victim’s name while allegedly using his own phone number and contact information — ensuring that all account access and communications were routed directly to him instead of the victim.
Prosecutors allege Intrieri then transferred the $300,000 into an E-Trade investment account that the victim had no ability to access or monitor.
Authorities further allege that Intrieri continued the deception by communicating with the victim while pretending to be representatives of the mortgage company involved in the transaction.
Following the investigation, Intrieri was charged on May 21 and entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
Officials have not indicated whether any of the funds have been recovered.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Detective Kyle Richardella of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 3224.
Prosecutor Billhimer praised the efforts of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Squad and the Jackson Township Police Department for their work on the investigation.
