Mamaroneck Man Pleads Guilty to Con Game

A 57-year-old Mamaroneck man pleaded guilty to scamming more than 100 immigrants, most of them Ecuadorean, before a Queens Supreme Court justice yesterday.

Gregorio Gonzalez, of 119 New Street in the village, operated a storefront church in Corona, Queens, telling the immigrants he would help them with their immigration status, and went as far as promising them U.S. visas and green cards, for a total sum of $50,000.

"The defendant in this case has admitted to preying upon the vulnerability of people who are new to this country and often fearful of the authorities," said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. "Those who have been victimized should have been able to trust their so-called pastor with their hard-earned cash."

Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny before Acting Supreme Court Justice Pauline A. Mullings, is expected to be sentenced to an indeterminate term of 2 to 6 years in prison on Jan. 26 and to be deported upon release, according to the Queens district attorney's office. 

Gonzalez' sister and another defendant, Gerardo Bello, 22, also of 119 New St. in Mamaroneck, helped Gonzalez with the scheme. Bello pleaded guilty to the same crime on Sept. 10, 2009 and has already been sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison. He is expected to de deported after he is released, according to the district attorney's office.

The three defendants met with the victims in several places in Queens, including their Church, Iglesia Pentecostal Roca de Salvacion Eterna, between April 1st and October 31st, 2008, District Attorney Brown said. The fees charged for the promised services ranged from $6,000 to $10,000 in the form of cash or personal checks.

After executing four search warrants at various locations in Queens, officials recovered approximately $75,000 in cash and a list of the victim's names. Some of these victims had contacted the district attorney's office and NYPD's 110th Precinct Detective Squad, which is how the investigation initiated, said Brown.

Maria Gonzalez, Gregorio's sister, has agreed to restitute $95,500. She plead guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny on Sept. 3, 2009, and was sentenced to five years' probation.