Elmont woman arrested for bail bonds scam

An Elmont woman was charged with stealing over $470,000 from more than three-dozen people in an investment scam she was running through her Queens bail bonds business, law enforcement officials said on Tuesday.

“The defendant is accused of taking sums of money – ranging from $1,200 to $95,000 – for her fictitious bail bonds business from dozens of people by guaranteeing them a return on their investments within a short period of time,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement, regarding the arraignment of Elmont resident Alexandra Munoz Monroy. “When the defendant failed to make good on her alleged promises and was confronted by her victims, she allegedly threatened them with physical harm and negative immigration consequences – including having them arrested.”

According to Brown, the crime was especially despicable because Monroy, 42, prayed on mostly spanish speaking clients who trusted her due to her Colombian heritage. Monroy was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. She has already surrendered her Colombian passport to prosecutors, officials said. She also ordered to surrender her United States passport. Her next court date is March 15, 2016.

“I want to thank Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, the Office of Immigrant Affairs and all those involved in the investigation that led to the arrest of Ms. Alexandra Muñoz Monroy,” State Senator Jose Peralta, and Elmhurst Democrat. “Many of my constituents fell prey to her scheme, so it is great to hear that this woman was brought to justice. Some of the victims came into my office, desperately, asking for help when they learned that they were ripped off.”

According to Brown, Monroy presented herself as a bail bondsman and agent of Royalty & Alee, Inc.. She collected “investments” from 37 individuals totaling $470,135 and would guarantee them a return within several days to several weeks on their “investments,” Brown said.

It was reported to authorities that when Monroy failed to produce returns to her clients and was confronted, she would threaten them with physical harm and negative immigration consequences, which included having them arrested.