Hammonton Man Accused of Defrauding Elderly Woman Out of $914K

Hammonton, N.J. — A Hammonton man is facing first-degree money laundering and multiple fraud charges after investigators say he spent six years defrauding an 80-year-old woman out of nearly $1 million.

50-year-old James Donio was arrested over the weekend and taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he awaits a detention hearing.

A Trusted Friend, a 6-year Scheme

According to the Hammonton Police Department, Donio had a long-standing relationship with the elderly Hammonton woman, a businesswoman and lifelong resident of the town, and used that trust to become involved in her finances.

Between 2019 and 2025, investigators allege he used fraudulent leases, a fraudulent discharge of a mortgage, and a series of unauthorized checks drawn from both her personal and business accounts to systematically drain her funds.

The department said the total loss was around $914,200 and it was ultimately people close to the victim who noticed something was wrong and alerted police.

Close-up of us one hundred dollar bills.

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Charges

Donio faces four counts of second-degree theft by deception, one count of second-degree theft by unlawful taking, three counts of fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records, and one count of first-degree money laundering.

Anyone with additional information about this case or who believes they may also be a victim is asked to contact the Hammonton Police Department or the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com