Alexander Almaraz, Multi-Million Dollar Fraud, New York 2023

Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Exposed on Long Island

A 20-count indictment has been unsealed in federal court, charging Alexander Almaraz, owner of Design Concepts Group LLC in Freeport, New York, with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and attempted wire fraud in connection with a scheme to induce individuals to hire the defendant and pay DCG to lift their Hurricane Sandy-damaged homes.

According to the indictment, between October 2015 and June 2019, Almaraz agreed to lift the homes of at least 20 customers who had received NYR funding and who collectively paid him approximately $2.5 million.

Instead of performing the agreed-upon work, Almaraz used the homeowners’ monies to pay for personal expenses, including credit card bills, land purchased in Kansas City, Missouri, and luxury automobiles, including a Lamborghini, a Porsche, and a Jaguar.

The charges announced today demonstrate that despite the passage of time, this Office and our law enforcement partners will prosecute fraudsters who prey on disaster victims and use government relief programs as a piggy bank to enrich themselves.

Almaraz is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow afternoon in federal court in Central Islip before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst.

United States Attorney Breon Peace stated, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the defendant took advantage of distressed homeowners who were desperate to rebuild their homes and their lives.”

Mr. Peace also thanked New York Rising within the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery for their assistance with the investigation.

Almaraz faces a maximum term of 30 years’ incarceration on each count in the indictment if convicted.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and Almaraz is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/long-island-contractor-indicted-multi-million-dollar-fraud-connection-hurricane-sandy