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VOL. 88 NO. 6
FEBRUARY 2 - 8, 2023
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Freeport business owner indicted in Sandy fraud States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst. He is currently free on a $100,000 bond. Alexander Almaraz, owner of Officials from the U.S. attorDesign Concepts Group LLC in ney’s office, the Federal Bureau Freeport, has been charged in a of Investigation and the Nassau 20-count indictment in connec- County district attorney reporttion with a scheme ed that Almaraz, to defraud homewho is accused of owners recovering exploiting disaster from the damage victims by preying caused by Hurricane on homeowners Sandy. eager to rebuild, was Almaraz, a arrested and 55-year-old former charged. Freeport resident “In the aftermath now living in Caliof Hurricane Sandy, fornia, was indicted the defendant took on charges of conadvantage of disspiracy to commit tressed homeowners wire fraud and who were desperate attempted wire to rebuild their fraud for allegedly homes and their convincing homelives,” U.S. Attorney owners to hire his Breon Peace stated company and pay for in a news release. repairs following He noted that though Hurricane Sandy. Sandy was more It is alleged that MICHAEL J. than a decade ago, Almaraz used $2.5 people who commit m i l l i o n re c e ive d DRISCOLL fraud will be prosefrom homeowners to FBI assistant cuted. p u rch a s e l u x u r y director-in-charge “As our fellow cars, including a community memLamborghini, a bers attempted to Porsche and a Jaguar. Almaraz restore their lives following the was arraigned and pleaded not cataclysmic destruction of Hurguilty Jan. 26 in federal court in ricane Sandy, the defendant Central Islip before United CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
A
Courtesy Susan Jeffers Photography
FROM THE DOCKS of Freeport to the bright lights of the national stage: 18-year-old Belle Bongiorno is preparing to join the all-youth production of ‘Hits! The Musical.’
Freeport native, 18, lands role in national musical tour By MOHAMED FARGHALY mfarghaly@liherald.com
Freeport talent Belle Bongiorno will grace stages across the country after securing a role in the national tour of “Hits! The Musical.” The 18-year-old will join 28 other entertainers when they take the stage to showcase America’s most iconic songs in the production. Growing up in Freeport, Bongiorno has always been drawn to the town’s coastal culture, having spent much of her childhood by the water. “A lot of my favorite memories are honestly just hanging out with friends and going to get
ice cream and sitting by the dock,” Bongiorno said. “It was just such a great feeling to be there by the water with them.” At 17, she landed her first job on a boat on the Nautical Mile, working as a sales associate and eventually being trained to be a first mate, responsible for the passengers and the boat’s maintenance. However, Bongiorno’s true passion for the performing arts started at a young age. She was cast in multiple productions of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” and performed the lead role of Clara when she was just 12. This experience sparked her love for the stage, and led her to audition for other opporCONTINUED ON PAGE 20
s alleged, rather than complete the promised contract, Almaraz stole his victims’ money to pay for his lavish personal expenses.