MANCHESTER – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners commends the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs for its successful completion of Operation "This Old House", a week-long undercover investigation targeting habitual violators in the home improvement industry.

Led by Senior Investigator Anthony Fontana and Investigator Andrew Chenacharick, the operation ran from Nov. 5 through Nov. 13 at a covert location in Manchester Township. Conducted in coordination with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the initiative focused on identifying unlicensed and noncompliant contractors operating throughout Ocean County.

"The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs takes proactive steps to protect our residents and ensure they can hire contractors with confidence," said Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, who serves as liaison to the department. "These enforcement efforts also safeguard honest businesses from being undermined by those who break the rules."

The investigation resulted in 40 violations issued against six contractors with histories of unpaid fines, legal actions and, in some cases, outstanding arrest warrants. Charges have been filed in Manchester Township Municipal Court, and the department is seeking fines exceeding $250,000. The cases have also been referred to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury and Division of Taxation for further review.

"Ocean County residents deserve honest, reliable contractors," said Ronald Heinzman, Director of the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs. "We will continue to pursue aggressive enforcement actions to safeguard our community."

Contractors who were cited included: Guru Waterproofing LLC from Manahawkin, BN Construction Co. from Brick, Zack of All Trades from Little Egg Harbor, B and J Asphalt from Toms River, Best Black Top from Toms River and Frogmen Construction from Bayville, who was charged at both state and county levels.

"These violations are not minor oversights, they represent serious breaches of trust and responsibility," Chenacharick stressed.

While the operation uncovered serious violations, it also found that three randomly selected contractors were fully compliant, highlighting the integrity of many hardworking professionals in the industry.

"This operation sends a clear message that Ocean County will not tolerate contractors who exploit our residents and ignore the law," Fontana said.

The Board of Commissioners also extended its gratitude to Manchester Township Police Chief Antonio Ellis, Lt. Dave Fusaro, the Manchester Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy for their support during the operation.

"The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs remains dedicated to protecting residents from fraudulent and predatory business practices," said Arace. "Operation ‘This Old House' underscores the department's ongoing mission to ensure fairness, transparency, and consumer protection across the county."