NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Long Island woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud for her role in defrauding hundreds of people, mostly elders, out of more than $1.5 million through a phony promise of including their biographies in a reference book, officials said.
The 57-year-old Southampton woman, Mara Ficarra, and a co-conspirator both owned, operated and held senior management positions in various companies, including Remington Biographies, Inc., Remington Bookkeepers, Inc., and Mentorship America1, Inc. (collectively, the “Remington Entities”), according to court documents.
Ficarra and her fellow scammer mailed letters and pamphlets to primarily eldery people saying their biography would be published in one of the reference publications between 2013 and 2018, authorities said.
The letters would begin with “Dear Nominee,” and go on to say “Your 2 books and your plaque are paid for in full and ready for delivery. Please send a check for $14.00 dollars for shipping and handling.” The letters and pamphlets also went on to describe the publishers saying, “The Remington Registry of Outstanding Professionals is more than a who’s who. It is the ultimate expression of achievements, hardships, and dedication that professionals have made in their lives and careers…. Sit back and be read for a wonderful experience.”
Hundreds of victims sent checks as payment for inclusion in the reference publications which Ficarra would then alter for larger dollar amounts. She would then deposit the fraudulent checks into the bank accounts she and her co-conspirator controlled at various banks. Ficarra would then withdraw cash from the accounts, officials said.
In total, Ficarra stole more than $1.5 million from the victims and financial institutions.
“Ficarra enriched herself by preying upon vulnerable elderly members of our community in an elaborate solicitation to immortalize the victims’ through inclusion of their biographies in reference publications she controlled, when in fact it was a scheme designed to steal their hard-earned savings. With today’s guilty plea, Ficarra has ensured that her own legacy is that of a convicted fraudster,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This Office is committed to protecting the elderly from financial fraud and ending elder abuse in all its pernicious forms.” Mr. Peace thanked the Southampton Town Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Ficarra faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced as well as forfeiture and restitution of more than $1.5 million.
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