By Juan Montoya
Police and operators of events centers whose facilities hosts birthdays, quinceañeras or other festive events are warning the public against a scammer who has stolen thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims by promising catering services and pocketing the money, including the payment for the rental of the events centers and then delivering nothing.
Today Oscar Sierra, of Oscar's Catering, 2929 International Blvd., was arraigned on two counts of felony theft after he was arrested yesterday on a complaint filed with the Brownsville Police Department. Bond was set at $25,000 per count and he was sent to Rucker-Carrizales until he posts bail.
Apparently, Sierra has been at this scam for some time, convincing his previous victims that it was a civil matter and not theft, a criminal offense.
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Among Sierra's victims is an 86-year-old woman who was to celebrate her birthday this weekend and paid Sierra 2,000 up front for catering that included the payment to the Amigoland Events Center.
Owner Mike Belleville said Sierra and his daughter Claribel prey on their victims by charging up front for their services and include the payments that they should make for the rental of the hall. In the case of the elderly woman, when she tried to reach him for an explanation, Sierra has not answered her calls, he said.
"It makes me feel bad for the victims because some of them have saved years for the quinceañeras for their daughters or for their weddings only to find out that there is no caterer there and that no one has paid for the rental of the reception hall," Belleville said. "In one case just last Saturday, there was a couple who was getting married and there was no catering available. We were fortunate to be able to get another caterer to fill in."
And this Saturday, a couple from San Antonio is scheduled to marry at the Amigoland Center, and found out that Sierra had not paid for the rental of the hall. Belleville said service providers like florists and other caterers have come together to provide the services and not disappoint the marrying party.
"I have been blessed by people who have come to m y assistance so that these people will not be disappointed," Belleville said. "They said, 'Mike, we'll help and you can count on us you until you get though this."
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The caterer not only provides the meal for the event, he said. They also arrange to provide the linens, flower arrangements or other decorations or services for the clients.
Since Sierra also convinces the victims that they can pay the rental of the events center to him in advance, the owners often have to absorb the loss of the rent of the reception hall because they had not place to go, Belleville said.
"These are people who work had for their money and sometimes save for years for the event," Belleville said. "This guy has no heart."
Belleville said that law enforcement and the Cameron County District Attorney's Office said they were pushing for a high bond for Sierra to prevent him from preying on other people.
He said he has contacted all future clients of his hall procured by Sierra and his daughter and has discovered that many have already paid them in advance.
"We are talking about 5,000 to $7,000 that include the $1,700 to $4,000 cost associated with the events center," Belleville said. "We are putting out the word to people to be aware of what is happening and to keep them from giving him their money."
Belleville said that if there are other victims of the caterer that should contact the Brownsville Police Department.
Police and operators of events centers whose facilities hosts birthdays, quinceañeras or other festive events are warning the public against a scammer who has stolen thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims by promising catering services and pocketing the money, including the payment for the rental of the events centers and then delivering nothing.
Today Oscar Sierra, of Oscar's Catering, 2929 International Blvd., was arraigned on two counts of felony theft after he was arrested yesterday on a complaint filed with the Brownsville Police Department. Bond was set at $25,000 per count and he was sent to Rucker-Carrizales until he posts bail.
Apparently, Sierra has been at this scam for some time, convincing his previous victims that it was a civil matter and not theft, a criminal offense.
Among Sierra's victims is an 86-year-old woman who was to celebrate her birthday this weekend and paid Sierra 2,000 up front for catering that included the payment to the Amigoland Events Center.Owner Mike Belleville said Sierra and his daughter Claribel prey on their victims by charging up front for their services and include the payments that they should make for the rental of the hall. In the case of the elderly woman, when she tried to reach him for an explanation, Sierra has not answered her calls, he said.
"It makes me feel bad for the victims because some of them have saved years for the quinceañeras for their daughters or for their weddings only to find out that there is no caterer there and that no one has paid for the rental of the reception hall," Belleville said. "In one case just last Saturday, there was a couple who was getting married and there was no catering available. We were fortunate to be able to get another caterer to fill in."
And this Saturday, a couple from San Antonio is scheduled to marry at the Amigoland Center, and found out that Sierra had not paid for the rental of the hall. Belleville said service providers like florists and other caterers have come together to provide the services and not disappoint the marrying party.
"I have been blessed by people who have come to m y assistance so that these people will not be disappointed," Belleville said. "They said, 'Mike, we'll help and you can count on us you until you get though this."
The caterer not only provides the meal for the event, he said. They also arrange to provide the linens, flower arrangements or other decorations or services for the clients.
Since Sierra also convinces the victims that they can pay the rental of the events center to him in advance, the owners often have to absorb the loss of the rent of the reception hall because they had not place to go, Belleville said.
"These are people who work had for their money and sometimes save for years for the event," Belleville said. "This guy has no heart."
Belleville said that law enforcement and the Cameron County District Attorney's Office said they were pushing for a high bond for Sierra to prevent him from preying on other people.
He said he has contacted all future clients of his hall procured by Sierra and his daughter and has discovered that many have already paid them in advance.
"We are talking about 5,000 to $7,000 that include the $1,700 to $4,000 cost associated with the events center," Belleville said. "We are putting out the word to people to be aware of what is happening and to keep them from giving him their money."
Belleville said that if there are other victims of the caterer that should contact the Brownsville Police Department.