By Connor Adams Sheets
A Flushing man has been charged with a number of crimes, including grand larceny for allegedly taking about $400,000 from an elderly acquaintance over the last 10 years and telling the man he was investing it, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
Francisco Yegros, 55, of 137th Street in Flushing, is accused of collecting the money from the man, telling him he was investing it in a Charles Schwab account and sending the victim fake account statements to perpetuate the alleged fraud, according to Queens DA Richard Brown.
“This alleged crime is particularly egregious, as the victim in this case had no idea that his savings were being stolen out from under him,” Brown said. “Instead of handing over his money at gunpoint, he is alleged to have handed it over under the guise of friendship and had no idea his hard-earned savings were being pilfered.”
Yegros’ attorney was not available to comment.
Yegros was arraigned Sept. 8 on one count of second-degree grand larceny and nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument before Queens Criminal Court Judge Elisa Koenderman.
The judge set bail at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash and ordered him to return to court Sept. 21.
The 84-year-old victim has allegedly been an acquaintance of Yegros for about 24 years and allegedly began to collect the money from him in April 2000.
Any individuals who believe they may also have been victimized by Yegros may call the DA’s Economic Crimes Bureau at 718-286-6673 to file a complaint.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
