NewsWhore
03-14-2011, 03:30 PM
A conman who posed as a Dominican diplomat to get cash for a fake charity, ripping off real charities along the way, was caught in his web of lies when a Manhattan Senator, Dominican Adriano Espaillat became suspicious, The Gothamist reports. The Gothamist wonders whether Espaillat was tipped off when he heard the name of the charity was "The Human Fund?
The Human Fund was a fraudulent scheme where George Costanza picks up funds as shown in Seinfeld, the sitcom that aired for years on NBC.
Reportedly, Francisco Calcano has been charged with grand larceny and criminal impersonation for allegedly raising and keeping $11,500 in the course of his 3-month scam. The Gothamist reports that Calcano allegedly posed as Dominican Republic Ambassador Roberto Saladin or someone from the Dominican embassy, and told victims their contributions would help ship emergency vehicles to Salcedo, a northern city in the Dominican Republic.
Espaillat became suspicious of Calcano's name-dropping, did some background digging, and eventually contacted the District Attorney's office.
Calcano faces seven years in prison, as well as a particularly vicious airing of grievances next holiday season.
http://gothamist.com/2011/03/12/con_man_caught_in_fake_charity_lie.php
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
The Human Fund was a fraudulent scheme where George Costanza picks up funds as shown in Seinfeld, the sitcom that aired for years on NBC.
Reportedly, Francisco Calcano has been charged with grand larceny and criminal impersonation for allegedly raising and keeping $11,500 in the course of his 3-month scam. The Gothamist reports that Calcano allegedly posed as Dominican Republic Ambassador Roberto Saladin or someone from the Dominican embassy, and told victims their contributions would help ship emergency vehicles to Salcedo, a northern city in the Dominican Republic.
Espaillat became suspicious of Calcano's name-dropping, did some background digging, and eventually contacted the District Attorney's office.
Calcano faces seven years in prison, as well as a particularly vicious airing of grievances next holiday season.
http://gothamist.com/2011/03/12/con_man_caught_in_fake_charity_lie.php
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)