Updates: Andy Biddle, P1 Champion and Class 6 Racer, Missing

[Serious News]

Man Accused of Staging Boat Crash Now Faces More Charges

A New Jersey man who disappeared after authorities say he staged a boating accident is now facing more charges.

Atlantic County prosecutors say the charges are included in a superseding indictment recently handed up by a county grand jury against Andrew Biddle, 45, of Egg Harbor Township, and Tracy Blumenstein, 49, of Northfield. Prosecutors say the counts stem from a series of fraudulent transactions the men committed between 2012 and 2014 through their boat sales business.

Biddle was reported missing July 20 after he and another man went into the water when their pontoon boat hit a buoy in Longport. His friend swam to shore and called police to say Biddle was missing.

The Coast Guard searched for Biddle, but law enforcement officials said two weeks later they believed the accident was staged.

A message left with Biddle's lawyer wasn't returned Monday. It wasn't known if Blumenstein has retained an attorney.

Biddle initially faced three counts of theft by deception. He was accused of taking boats in trades and reselling them without paying off the loans.

The new indictment, handed up Thursday and made public on Monday, charges both men with seven counts of theft by deception, five counts of theft by illegal retention and two counts of passing checks. They also each face single counts of conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking and deceptive business practices.

Both men remain free on bail. They face lengthy prison terms if convicted on all counts.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-accused-staging-boat-crash-now-faces-charges-30623890

 

[Serious News]

Egg Harbor Township Man Who Allegedly Faked His Own Death Indicted in Alleged $75,000 Boat Sales Conspiracy

Andrew Biddle was among two people from Atlantic County indicted in the scheme last week.

An Egg Harbor Township man who allegedly staged a boating accident to avoid prosecution was indicted last week on charges of conspiracy and theft by deception of over $75,000 in cash and property, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced on Monday.

Andrew Biddle, 45, was reported missing after a boating accident near Longport on July 20 of last year. His boat struck a buoy and his friend reported him missing. The Coast Guard searched for 18 hours without finding him, but police said he was wanted for faking the accident a few weeks later.

The offshore powerboat racer surrendered nearly seven months later.

On Thursday, he and Tracy Blumenstein, 49, of Northfield, were indicted for the following alleged crimes involving eight separate victims between 2012 and 2014:
•Second degree theft by deception, for allegedly unlawfully and purposely obtaining by deception the properties, worth $75,000, of multiple victims in order to deprive the owners of their property;
•Second degree Conspiracy, for allegedly conspiring with each other to commit theft by deception, in excess of $75,000, from multiple victims;
•Two counts of passing bad checks—third degree crimes—for allegedly passing checks, knowing that the drawee would not honor them, one in the amount of $17,000, the other in the amount of $33,811.09;
•Six counts of theft by deception—third degree crimes—by allegedly purposely obtaining money or property from the victims by creating or reinforcing the impression that they would sell victims’ boats, or sell boats to victims. They allegedly said they would do this through their business, Professional Boat Sales LLC. However, they then allegedly failed to either turn over the proceeds of the sale or provide the purchased item;
•Five counts of theft by illegal retention—third degree crimes—by allegedly obtaining victims’ properties by agreeing to make specified payment or other disposition. They then allegedly dealt with the property as their own, failing to make the required payment,
•Third degree theft by unlawful taking, by allegedly taking the property of a victim in order to deprive that owner of the property; and
•Fourth degree deceptive business practices, by allegedly creating or reinforcing the false impression that Professional Boat Sales LLC was licensed to sell boats for the purpose of obtaining property or credit.

Both men were previously charged and indicted on several of the individual cases reported to police. This comprehensive set of indictments supersedes the earlier Grand Jury actions.

Both men are released on bail pending trial.

http://patch.com/new-jersey/gallowa...s-own-death-indicted-alleged-75000-boat-sales

 

[Ratickle]

I'm really surprised they let him out on bail. Didn't he already disappear once? :huh:

 

[Serious News]

Man accused of staging boat crash pleads not guilty to fraud

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey man who disappeared after authorities say he staged a boating accident has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges.

Andrew Biddle, of Egg Harbor Township, entered his pleas during an arraignment hearing Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the charges stem from a series of fraudulent transactions that Biddle and another man committed through their boat sales business. Biddle has not yet been charged in relation to his disappearance.

The 45-year-old Biddle was reported missing July 20 after he and another man went into the water when their pontoon boat hit a buoy in Longport. His friend swam to shore and called police to say Biddle was missing.

The Coast Guard searched for Biddle, but law enforcement officials said two weeks later they believed the accident was staged.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/n...4d029d13aec9b5e7b78f.html#UeFzxXY81FAZDemy.99

 

[Serious News]

NJ boat racer accused of faking death pleads not guilty to fraud

A boat racing champion accused of faking his own death last year to avoid fraud charges pleaded not guilty in a New Jersey criminal court on Tuesday.

Andrew Biddle, 45, disappeared last July in what police say was a staged boating accident. Biddle had recently been summoned to appear in court on charges of defrauding customers at the boat shop he ran in the coastal town of Northfield, when the crash occurred.

Biddle, who has a wife and children, resurfaced in February to face the charges against him. The circumstances of his disappearance and whereabouts have so far not been explained publicly.

Biddle's codefendant, Tracy Blumenstein, 49, also pleaded not guilty. Both men are free on bail.

Assistant District Attorney Shannon Phillips offered the men eight years in state prison and full restitution to victims as part of a preliminary plea deal. They can still choose to accept the deal, Phillips said in court.

In February 2014, prosecutors charged Biddle and Blumenstein with 13 criminal complaints, including selling a boat and trailer without repaying the owner, taking money for undelivered goods and misleading customers about the costs of certain items.

Since Biddle's return, he and Blumenstein have had more charges filed against them, including second-degree theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars and second-degree conspiracy.

Biddle, who appeared tan and calm during his court appearance, did not comment during his arraignment, which took less than five minutes.

In addition to running the boating shop, Biddle was an active powerboat racer, winning races including the P1 SuperStock Championship.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/...ed-of-faking-death-pleads-not-guilty-to-fraud

 

[Performance Unlimited]

A large task force for Racketeering

It is amazing what these scammer minds try to accomplish and Karma caught up with them ...hopefully justice will be served accordingly.
https://patch.com/florida/clearwater/racketeering-charges-filed-against-2-pinellas-boat-builders

 

[Ratickle]

Wow, quite the scumbags.......