CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — An accountant is facing federal charges after prosecutors said he defrauded more than a dozen investors of more than $3 million through real estate schemes involving properties across Long Island and elsewhere in New York.
Alberto Gomez, 48, of Boca Raton, Florida, was charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Gomez, who operated an accounting practice in Elmhurst, was arrested in Boca Raton after the indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip. He will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Federal prosecutors allege that from approximately April 2021 through November 2024, Gomez solicited investors to purchase full or partial interests in properties or provide money for renovations and improvements intended to increase resale value.
In some cases, prosecutors said Gomez promised investors ownership interests totaling more than 100% of a property.
At a Mount Vernon property, Gomez allegedly entered into ownership, purchase and partnership agreements that effectively sold investors 266% of the ownership interest.
Prosecutors said similar schemes involved Long Island properties.
Gomez allegedly sold investors a combined 125% ownership interest in a Mill Neck property and a combined 130% interest in an East Hampton property.
He also solicited investments involving properties in Glen Cove, Elmont and Bayville, telling investors the money would be used to rehabilitate the properties and increase their resale value, according to prosecutors.
No renovations or improvements were made to those properties, prosecutors said. Gomez instead allegedly used investor money for personal expenses and to repay other investors.
Many of the investors were elderly, according to federal authorities.
Prosecutors said the alleged schemes caused losses exceeding $3 million among more than a dozen victims.
Authorities also accuse Gomez of trying to use bankruptcy proceedings to discharge debts arising from the alleged schemes.
About a year after the Mount Vernon transactions, Gomez filed for bankruptcy and allegedly concealed his largest creditor while leading the bankruptcy trustee to believe he owned the limited liability company connected to the property, prosecutors said.
“As alleged in the indictment, Gomez brazenly stole millions of dollars from over a dozen investors, some of whom staked their life’s savings on his lies, and then he shamelessly declared bankruptcy, doubling down by lying to the court as well,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said.
FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said Gomez allegedly misrepresented property ownership, solicited investments for properties he did not control and collected investments exceeding the value of Long Island real estate.
If convicted, Gomez faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the four wire fraud counts and up to five years on the bankruptcy fraud count.
The charges are allegations. Gomez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
