SAN JOSE (KRON) — A 44-year-old Gilroy woman has been charged with stealing more than $250,000 over the last six months from the South Bay Latino community,
according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday.
Investigators say Leticia Ramona Gonzalez Sandoval took tens of thousands of dollars from her victims, promising to wire the money to Mexico. But police say she instead pocketed the money.
Investigators believe that she took more than $42,000 from customers as part of the alleged scam.
Sandoval is owner of Creaciones Lety, a money transfer service which she had been operating out of 7261 Monterey St. in Gilroy.
She is also accused of taking $224,000 in investments through fraudulent investment schemes promising to “share profits” she would reap through the foreign currency exchange. Investigators say Sandoval convinced investors to give her amounts ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 with promised returns of a couple thousand dollars per month.
Investigators say most investors never received the first promised payment. In many cases, they say people invested their entire life savings and lost them.
“We are deeply concerned that there may be many other victims of these schemes,” prosecutor Vishal Bathija said. “If you believe that you may be a victim, please contact your local police as soon as possible.”
Sandoval is charged with 14 criminal counts, including grand theft and securities fraud. Bail is currently set at $1,000,000.
She’s set to appear in court on June 9th.
Anyone believed to be an unreported victim in this case is urged to contact Gilroy Police Detective Rick Jenkins at Rick.Jenkins@ci.gilroy.ca.us or (408) 846-0350.