Oldsmar man cheated Hispanics, police say

A 40-year-old is accused of taking thousands of dollars from people who believed they would get immigration papers.

By CHRIS TISCH
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 25, 2002

CLEARWATER -- Police have arrested a man on suspicion that he defrauded local Hispanic residents by selling them counterfeit immigration papers and other items that he never delivered.

Police say Pedro Rolando Figueroa, 40, of Oldsmar, cheated local residents out of more than $51,000. He targeted local Hispanics who didn't have proper paperwork to be in the United States, figuring they wouldn't report the crimes to police, said Detective Ramon Cosme.

"He preyed on those most vulnerable, believing that the system would work in his favor," Cosme said in a news release.

Figueroa ran most of his scams in Clearwater last year, cheating four victims in the city's burgeoning Mexican community out of more than $50,000 in a 30-day period, police said. The victims gave thousands of dollars each to a man known to them only as Jaime, believing they would receive immigration documents.

"For life in this country, I'm told that's a cheap price," police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.

But the papers never were delivered, and Jaime dropped out of the area, police said.

Earlier this month, one of the victims discovered that Jaime was back in town, again trying to sell counterfeit documents. That victim learned where Jaime was staying and notified police.

Cosme learned the man's true identity, then found more victims. Shelor said the detective has identified up to 11 possible victims. Police believe there may be more. The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible, Shelor said.

"This is another example of how people should be particularly wary of conducting commerce in parking lots, especially if there's no delivery upon payment," Cosme said.

In 1999, Tampa police arrested Figueroa on a grand theft charge. He was accused of posing as an agent for the Immigrational and Naturalization Service, then scheming a man out of $1,650 on the promise that he could get legal papers to bring a family member from the Dominican Republic to the United States. The victim never heard from Figueroa again.

"This is just another example of this guy preying on the immigrants and giving them false hope that they can beat the system," said Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin.

Figueroa told police he had a "substantial heroin problem" at the time, Durkin said.

Figueroa was sentenced to five years of probation, which he was serving when he was arrested Tuesday.

Cosme charged him Tuesday with scheming to defraud. Figueroa posted $20,000 bail and was released from the Pinellas County Jail. He could not be reached for comment.

Shelor said police will not take any action in regard to Figueroa's victims when it comes to their documentation.

"We are not the INS," he said. "Clearly, they're victims of a crime. And a very selfish one, too."

He said all residents, whatever their documentation, should feel comfortable contacting police if they are a crime victim. The city has seen its Mexican population swell to about 5,000 residents, making it the sixth-largest Mexican community in Florida.

"The word is out on the street that we're here to help you," Shelor said. "It doesn't matter what your status is, Clearwater police will afford you all the rights and all the protections afforded to all the residents of Clearwater."

Whom to call

Anyone who believes he or she was a victim of Pedro Rolando Figueroa can call Detective Ramon Cosme at 562-4373.

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