Lodi grandmother threatened with eviction over grandson

LODI — Since 1950, Rose DiMaria has called the De Vries Park apartments home.

But the 87-year-old is now faced with an agonizing dilemma: Let her grandson — who has been barred from the property — continue to visit her and risk eviction, or bow to the demands of the complex's owners, who say he is a security risk?

"I feel bullied," DiMaria said. "I want them to leave me alone."

DiMaria's grandson, Gregory Ciccone, has been caring for his elderly grandmother ever since her regular caretaker — another family member — was unable to because of health issues. On a nearly daily basis, he has visited DiMaria to help with tasks such as grocery shopping, laundry and organizing her medications. 

But on Sept. 29, the executive director of the Lodi Housing Authority, which owns the De Vries apartments, wrote a letter to Police Chief Vincent Quatrone and the Lodi postmaster voicing concern for DiMaria's welfare and safety.

The director, Thomas DeSomma, alleged that Ciccone took mail out of her mailbox and tried to intercept her mail directly from the letter carrier. The post office also notified the Housing Authority that someone had placed an electronic hold on DiMaria's mail several times, DeSomma wrote.

DeSomma was also concerned, he said, after investigating Ciccone's background, which includes a 2013 federal conviction for wire fraud and filing a false tax return. He was later sentenced to three years in prison.

"After doing a web search on Gregory Ciccone, I am even more concerned about the welfare, security and safety of all Lodi Housing Authority's residents at the De Vries Park Family Complex," DeSomma said in the letter.

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Four days after sending that letter, the Housing Authority notified DiMaria that if she continued to allow Ciccone access to the property, eviction proceedings would begin. Last week, Ciccone said he was stopped by police and told he was on a trespassing list.

"I want them to leave me alone," a feisty, clearly frustrated DiMaria said in an interview at Ciccone's Little Falls home, where she has been temporarily living.

"This has become detrimental to my health," she added. "I don't cause any problems, and I want to be left alone."

Ciccone pleaded guilty in 2013 to charges that he defrauded charities by promising prizes such as a walk-on role on "Desperate Housewives" that he was unable to deliver. He also filed a 2009 tax return that did not report the full amount of his earnings from charities and failed to report gambling income, federal officials said at the time. 

While the Housing Authority has not given DiMaria a reason for banning her grandson, Ciccone believes he is being penalized for his past.

"Do you not get a second chance? Ciccone asked. "This is a personal vendetta against me that's hurting my grandmother."

DiMaria dismissed the allegations that her grandson was interfering with her mail. She further contended that it is she — not Ciccone — who has been putting the electronic holds on her mail.

"It's none of their business where I go or why I stop my mail," she said.

Lodi Housing Authority attorney Conrad Olear said he could not comment on a private matter involving a tenant. However, he noted that a pending hearing with DiMaria would focus on the notice she received requiring her to cut off Ciccone's access to the property — not the threatened eviction.

"This is a federal housing authority that is charged with the health, safety and welfare of all tenants," Olear said. "If that becomes an issue, that's what the hearing is for. About 99 percent of the time, matters are resolved in the hearings."

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com