Christopher Tzokas (48 of Toms River), has been charged with one count of second degree Theft by Deception and two counts of third degree Theft by Deception. He faces up to 10 years in New Jersey state prison on the second degree charge, with up to five years without parole and fines up to $150,000. He also faces an additional five years on each third degree charge with up to 2.5 years without parole and up to $15,000 in fines.

An investigation was started in June of 2017 by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office after they received a call alerting that Tzokas committed a theft against a school in the amount of $407,331.00 and further investigation later determined that there were two additional victims. A church who lost approximately $43.493 and a home owner how lost approximately $33,468.75.

The investigation determined that after beginning a typical solar installation process and reviving initials payments, he would stop appearing at the job site and become inaccessible and unresponsive to the clients. Tzokas never continued any work and fraudulently spent the payments for his own personal use.

Tzokas was charged on February 1st 2019, and was arrested by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office with the assistance of the Toms River Police Department.  Anyone who has further information to assist in the investigative process, is urged to contact the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Detective Stephen Borchard at 1-800-533-7433.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer and despite these charged, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.