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Alleged Scam Artist Targeted Dominican New Yorkers, DA Says

By DNAinfo Staff on March 11, 2011 4:10pm

Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. announced the indictment of Francisco Calcano on Friday. Calcano is accused of scamming Dominican New Yorkers by stealing money they believed was being donated.
Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. announced the indictment of Francisco Calcano on Friday. Calcano is accused of scamming Dominican New Yorkers by stealing money they believed was being donated.
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DNAinfo/Shayna Jacobs

By Shayna Jacobs

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — An alleged scam artist cold-called Dominican New Yorkers to raise funds for a tragedy-stricken city in their country by pretending to be the Ambassador, the Manhattan District Attorney said Friday.

But the scam was busted when the caller reached State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who referred the apparent fraud to the the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, he said Friday.

Espaillat's office took the call seriously at first and referred the accused thief, Francisco Calcano, to constituents of his who had contacts in the Dominican Republic, Vance said.

Prosecutors said "several" victims had been scammed out of $15,000 by Calcano between October 2010 and January. They would not say whether he had accomplices, but he is currently the only person charged.

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat was reached by an alleged scammer who was raising money he claimed was for a charitable cause. 
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State Sen. Adriano Espaillat was reached by an alleged scammer who was raising money he claimed was for a charitable cause. .
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DNAinfo/Paul Lomax

Calcano, 42, of Maryland, is facing grand larceny and fraud charges. It is unclear when he will be arraigned.

He allegedly pretended the money would finance the transport of ambulance and fire vehicles to Salcedo, in the Dominican Republic, where there had been a disastrous fire. The vehicles did not even exist, the DA said.

"The senator received a phone call soliciting his help and the senator ultimately became suspicious and called our office," Vance said. 

Victims, who wired Calcano money, included a Bronx restaurant manager, a Salcedo city official and the brother of the Salcedo mayor. An orphanage in the city of La Vega was also allegedly scammed out of nearly $5,000. Three of the victims were the referral of the senator.

A statement was released by Espaillat's office but did not go into detail because the senator may be called to testify, he said.

The statement read: "Late last year, my office was contacted by [Francisco Calcano], who was claiming to call on behalf of Ambassador Roberto Saladin of the Dominican Republic. A Manhattan Grand Jury indicted this individual on serious criminal charges. As I may be called to be a witness in this case, I will not be able to speak further on this topic."

Calcano faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.