FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com DECEMBER 3, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 11 Ridgewood-based travel agent hit with more immigrant fraud charges BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport More victims of a Ridgewood-based travel agent, who allegedly swindled undocumented immigrants out of thousands of dollars in return for procuring legal immigrant status, have come forward, leading to additional charges, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. The agent was identifi ed as Dariusz “Darius” Buczynski, of Maspeth, who is the owner of Anka Travel and Consulting Services, located at 65-14 Fresh Pond Rd. and formerly at 71-20 Fresh Pond Rd., both in Ridgewood. The new victims gave their stories after Brown earlier urged people who felt they may have been a victim of the defendant’s alleged scheme to call his newly established Offi ce of Immigrant Affairs. “Earlier this year, I established an Offi ce of Immigrant Affairs to assist members of the Queens County’s various immigrant communities in navigating and accessing the criminal justice system because it has been my offi ce’s experience that immigrants are often specifi cally targeted for fraud and exploitation due to their unfamiliarity with the law and their heavy reliance on fi nding someone to assist them in navigating the process of obtaining the necessary documents to work and remain in the United States,” Brown said. “This case clearly proves the need for such an offi ce here in the county of immigrants as my offi ce received many calls in the wake of the defendant’s initial arrest.” According to the criminal charges, three couples separately visited Anka Travel to meet with Buczynski to ask for assistance in securing government documents granting legal status, including work documents and legal resident status. Between Oct. 17, 2009, and Feb. 15, 2013, the victims allegedly paid Buczynski a total of $27,840, even though none of them received any documents or letters from the United States Immigration Service regarding an application for legal status or work authorization. It is alleged that when the couples demanded their money back, Buczynski either did not return their calls and texts or told them he did not have the money. Nine others have now made similar allegations against Buczynski, according to Brown. “Confi dence artists in general are illusionists who do not like having their schemes aired in public,” Brown said. “In this particular case, as a result of publicizing the defendant’s alleged scheme, other victims who might not have come forward did and the defendant now faces additional felony charges.” Buczynski was arraigned last week in Queens Criminal Court on a criminal complaint, charging him with third-degree grand larceny and fi rstdegree scheme to defraud, Brown said. The suspect, who faces up to seven years in jail if convicted, was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on Dec. 15. Great rates like ours are always in season. 18-Month CD 1.15%APY* At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, an offer like this can’t last forever. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. $5,000 minimum deposit * New money only. APY effective September 23, 2015. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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