According to an indictment, a contractor from Long Island is suspected of stealing millions from Hurricane Sandy victims and utilizing the money for personal purchases, particularly a number of luxury cars.
Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, claims that Alexander Almaraz, 55, allegedly stole $2.5 million from at least 20 victims after Superstorm Sandy hit the New York City region in October 2012.
The Owner of Design Concepts Group LLC Accused To Commit Wire Fraud
The owner of Design Concepts Group LLC in Freeport, Almaraz, is accused of conspiring to commit wire fraud as well as actual and attempted wire fraud. Almaraz signed agreements with homes that wanted to rehabilitate after the disaster.
Homes would be lifted by the contractor and placed on a makeshift support system so that broken foundations could be replaced without having to demolish the building.
Customers paid Almaraz $2.5 million between October 2015 and June 2019 after receiving funds from the state's New York Rising program, according to authorities.
The Contractor Used The Stole Money To Buy Luxury Items
According to the prosecution, the contractor allegedly stole the funds and used them to pay his own credit card debt, purchase a Lamborghini, a Porsche, a Jaguar, and a piece of land in Missouri.
Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated in a statement that the contractor "supposedly promised victims for nearly four years that he would fix their homes, yet he utilized disaster relief money to buy luxury sports vehicles and property in another state." If found guilty of each allegation, Almaraz could spend up to 30 years in jail.
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