by Jerry Burke
According to the Nassau County Crimes Against Property Squad, Mina Ramos, 57, of East Rockaway, was arrested again last Monday for charges stemming from the alleged bilking of more than $15,000 from 19 residents of a Bethpage senior citizens home.
This time, Ramos was charged with first-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree grand larceny. She posted $1,000 bail after being arraigned Tuesday, July 29, at First District Court in Hempstead.
According to Detective Sgt. James Tilton of the Crimes Against Property Squad, Ramos overcharged approximately 19 residents of the Sunny Lane Senior Housing upward of $800 apiece for a Hawaiian cruise package. Tilton also stated that travel insurance for one of the passengers was paid for by the client but never actually purchased.
Ramos' arrest history dates to March 13, 2001, for an alleged grand larceny that occurred in August of the previous year. Police said Ramos fraudulently used a customer's credit card without the customer's knowledge. She was charged with two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and arraigned. At the time, police began asking any customers who had conducted business with Ramos to contact them immediately.
An ongoing investigation yielded yet another charge against Ramos. More customers came forward to police, accusing her of using their credit cards in a similar fashion. A month later, on April 12, 2001, Ramos was arrested a second time, this time charged with first-degree scheme to defraud.
Two months later, on July 11, 2001, there was another arrest stemming from an allegedly unbooked trip to Europe paid for by the most recent victim. Incidentally, the victim, who spoke to the Herald under the condition of anonymity, booked the trip on March 30, 2001, a little more than two weeks after Ramos' first arrest. "I had no idea that she had been arrested," said the victim. "I knew she wouldn't have mentioned it, but I was surprised that she couldn't be put out of business after something like that."
The victim alleged that he was out the $7,000 he had paid Ramos for a European vacation. After discovering his plans had not yet been made only days before his trip, he confronted Ramos at her place of business. The victim said Ramos assured him the arrangement he had previously made through her would be honored, but he first had to sign a letter of cancellation with the businesses he had contacted personally. "I felt very uncomfortable with her proposition," he recalled, "and promptly left."
Ramos settled all of those charges in March 2002, pleading guilty to one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, a class E felony in New York. She received five years of probation and agreed to pay approximately $28,000 in restitution to the victims.
Detective Bob Gally, who was present for Ramos' first three arrests, said last year the travel agent "had no remorse" when she was picked up. "She has been in business there for quite a number of years," he said. "Many of those coming forward said they trusted her completely." Ramos has been in business in Franklin Square for more than 20 years.
Police urged customers of Mina's Travel to check their credit card statements and confirm any future travel arrangements they made through the company. If an irregular charge appears or if reservations have not been made properly, the police urge customers to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
A spokeswoman for the district attorney reminded residents that Ramos is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. Ramos and her attorney, Glenn Garber of the Manhattan-based law firm Garber and Rodi, could not be reached for comment about the charges against her.
