The Queens County District Attorney’s Office keeps churning out high profile white collar fraud cases. Unfortunately for Matthew McEntee and Mariwa M. Mora, two Flushing residents, these two defendants are awaiting arraignment after they were arrested in connection to an alleged fraud scheme involving $16 million in assets.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office press release, Mr. McEntee, wrongfully portraying himself to be an attorney, and Ms. Mora, allegedly scammed twelve property owners out of $16 million in assets including properties in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and California. “[A] ccording to the criminal charges, an unapprehended individual introduced McEntee to the victims as an investor who was looking to buy properties for his corporations – Clarity Corporate Trust and Conveyance Corporate Trust. During the introductions, McEntee allegedly claimed to be an attorney, an accountant and a banker and introduced Mora as either his fiancee or wife. In some cases, it is alleged, while negotiating the cash sales of the properties, McEntee also offered to buy the victims’ high-end vehicles – such as Mercedes Benzs, Mustangs and SUVs – and expensive house furnishings. McEntee also allegedly told some of the victims that for corporate tax reasons if they brought money or other valuables to the closing, he would issue them a check for double the value which would be in the payment check for the properties. In each instance, the certified corporate checks drawn on an HSBC bank account that the defendants allegedly provided to the victims at the closings were deemed forged.”
Beyond the properties, some of the alleged victims were duped into turning over over $300,000 in cash as well as jewelry and mink coats.
The defendants are charged with Grand Larceny in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Degree, punishable by up to 25, 15, 7 and 4 years in prison respectively. They are also charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, punishable by up to 15 years in prison as well as Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, punishable by up to 7 years in state prison.
Saland Law PC is a criminal defense firm located in New York. Founded by two former Manhattan prosecutors, Saland Law PC represents clients throughout the New York region.