“We allege that these four individuals targeted intoxicated New Yorkers and used their credit cards and financial apps to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise at Apple and luxury retailers,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We are working with retailers to make sure their business practices do not encourage large-scale, late-night unauthorized purchases.”

“No longer is the smartphone itself the most lucrative target for scammers and robbers – it’s the financial apps contained within,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Thousands or even tens of thousands can be drained from financial accounts in a matter of seconds with just a few taps. Without additional protections, customers’ financial and physical safety is being put at risk. I hope these companies accept our request to discuss commonsense solutions to deter scammers and protect New Yorkers’ hard-earned money.”

“Como se alega, neoyorquinos que buscan convertirse en residentes permanentes confiaron en Pablo Israel Ortega Cuenca para que les proporcionara servicios legales, y él violó esa confianza aprovechándose de ellos y poniéndolos en riesgo de deportación”, dijo el fiscal Bragg. “Si usted cree que usted o alguien que conoce ha sido víctima de este tipo de fraude, le exhortamos a que llame a la línea directa de la Unidad de Asuntos del Inmigrante de nuestra oficina al 212-335-3600 o por WhatsApp al 347-371-0877. Hay intérpretes disponibles para ayudar a los que no hablan inglés, e invitamos a todos a que se comuniquen independientemente de su estatus migratorio.”

“As alleged, New Yorkers looking to become permanent residents trusted Pablo Israel Ortega Cuenca to provide them with legal services, and he broke that trust by taking advantage of them and putting them at risk of deportation,” said District Attorney Bragg. “If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of this type of fraud, we urge you to call our office’s Immigration Affairs Unit hotline at 212-335-3600 or via WhatsApp at 347-371-0877. Interpreters are available to assist non-native English speakers and we encourage all to reach out regardless of immigration status.”

“By corrupting the market, Lawrence Wecker and Joseph Guinta robbed legitimate MWBEs and smaller contractors of the chance to do business in New York,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These defendants engaged in multiple types of fraud and corruption, from committing insurance fraud to doling cash bribes. We will not tolerate fraud in the construction industry, particularly at the expense of New York’s workers.”