Soho firm scammed
Judy Del Galdo, 67, and her son, Joseph Del Galdo, 46, were sentenced to four to 12 years in prison on Tues., Dec. 20, for stealing more than $16 million over a period of seven years from a textile company at 483 Broadway near Broome St.
The Del Galdos, who pleaded guilty to the charges in April, are also ordered to pay the firm more than $15 million, in addition to the $850,000 they already restored, according to the Manhattan district attorney.
Through forgery, unauthorized withdrawals and a dummy account between August 2003 and April 2010, Judy Del Galdo stole the money from Hi-Fashion Fabrics and its affiliate Timeless Treasures Fabrics where she worked as a bookkeeper for 22 years. The defendants moved $667,000 to Joseph Del Galdo’s now-defunct private ambulance company and spent the rest on private jet flights, luxury sports boxes at Madison Square Garden and the Meadowlands, and $850,000 on mortgages on three properties now all foreclosed.
Gangster is going away
Guang Ju Lin, leader of a gang active in Chinatown and in Los Angeles, was sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 7 after his July 11 conviction on racketeering offen-ses, including murder, attempted murder, narcotics trafficking and illegal gambling. He was involved in the November 2001 attempted murder of a rival gang member in a Chinatown restaurant where a 2-year-old child was injured in the gunfire. In December 2001 he fled to Los Angeles after being involved in a murder in Queens, and in August 2006, he and accomplices stabbed, beat and shot to death a victim involved in a dispute with a gang member in Los Angeles, according to the Manhattan district attorney. Yudi Liu, a Chinatown and Queens associate of Lin, pleaded guilty to murder in March and awaits sentencing.
Violent eve
Police responded to reports of gunshots following a stabbing in front of 35 Clinton St. at the corner of Stanton St. shortly before midnight on Dec. 24. The victim told police that about four suspects jumped him, slashed his face and head and fired several shots. A police helicopter and a K-9 team also responded, and a person of interest was apprehended but no charges have been filed yet, police said. Detectives are investigating the case.
Groping bag thief
A suspect followed a woman, 40, into her building near Monroe and Catherine Sts. around 7:50 a.m. Sun., Dec. 18, groped her and tried to steal her bag, according to reports. The victim struggled and the suspect fled empty-handed.
Bike-by mugging
A woman, 25, was talking on her cell phone while walking on Essex St. near Stanton St. around 11:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10, when a man on a white bicycle punched her in the face and chest and tried to grab the phone. The victim resisted and held on to her phone, and the thief pedaled off toward Houston St.
‘I’ll blow your brains out!’
Police are looking for a suspect who walked into the Capital One branch at 401 W. 23rd St. at Ninth Ave. around 3:35 p.m. Wed., Dec. 21, and shouted at a teller, “I’ll blow your brains out!” unless he surrendered the money. The suspect fled with about $2,200. He was described as a black man in his 30s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 190 pounds, wearing a New Orleans Hornets baseball cap, blue jacket with a “C” on the front, blue jeans and blue sneakers.
Precinct pilferer
Todd Barnes, 50, a 13th Precinct civilian administrative assistant, pleaded guilty on Thurs., Dec. 22, to stealing more than $16,000 in $10 money orders from the precinct over the past two years. The money orders were made out to “N.Y.P.D.” to pay for copies of accident reports in the precinct, which covers the area from 14th to 29th Sts. between Seventh Ave. and the East River.
Cell-snatch arrest
A woman told Sixth Precinct patrol officers shortly after 4:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 21, that she was talking on her cell phone while walking on Barrow St. between West and Washington Sts. when a thief grabbed the phone and fled. She pointed the direction the thief took, and the cops gave chase and arrested Rogerio Bentodelima, 27, who was identified by the victim. Police recovered the phone and charged the suspect with larceny.
Busted with bags
The bouncers at Wicked Willy’s, 149 Bleecker St., arrested Jimmy Ponce, who was holding two women’s handbags outside the bar around 10:50 p.m. Wed., Dec. 21. One of the victims told the bouncers that her bag had been stolen from a table inside the bar. Ponce, 26, was carrying her bag and one belonging to another patron. He was charged with larceny.
Flex filcher
The manager of Flex Mussels restaurant at 154 W. 13th St. charged that a trusted acquaintance, Gilbert Caradang, 39, stole more than $70,000 from her account between Feb. 1 and Dec. 20 of this year. The suspect was charged with ID theft and larceny.
Funny money
Police arrested Keshawn Hemingway, 19, on Seventh Ave. South between Grove and Barrow Sts. shortly before 5 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 22, for trying to pass counterfeit $20 bills to several merchants in the area.
Cookie culprit
The first employee to open Insomnia Cookies, 15 W. Eighth St., on Thurs., Dec. 22, discovered the window gate was down but unlocked and the front door closed but unlocked. Missing from the shop was $200 in cash, as well as the cash register, valued at $680. A surveillance camera next door caught an image, believed to be of a former Insomnia employee, opening the gate and the door with keys.
— Albert Amateau
