Turn To Tara: Arrest made 1 week after exclusive report on immigrant scam
Posted: Updated:An arrest was made one week after a Turn To Tara investigation exposed a scam targeting immigrants in Westchester.
New father Jorge Ordonez said he wound up falling prey to a rental scam shortly after he arrived in Westchester.
The scam was allegedly staged by Jeffrey Pena, who is accused of posting Spanish ads in Laundromats across the county featuring a cheap, too-good-to-be-true apartment rental.
After he took two month’s rent from would-be tenants, the tenants say they were never allowed to move in.
Mount Pleasant police say officers arrested Pena Thursday morning, one week after Turn To Tara exposed the allegations. He was slapped with eight felony counts of scheme to defraud in the first degree.
Police say Pena specifically targeted undocumented residents and threatened to call ICE when victims asked for their money back.
News 12’s Tara Rosenblum spoke by phone with a handful of Pena’s alleged victims. They said they were surprised and grateful to learn of his arrest.
Pena has not returned calls for comment from News 12.
Turn to TaraMore>>
Got a problem? You should Turn to Tara. Here's how.
Got a problem? You should Turn to Tara. Here's how.
Turn to Tara
Turn to Tara
Do you need to Turn to Tara?
Tara has your back and wants to hear from you. Reach her by email, Twitter or Facebook.Do you need to Turn to Tara?
Tara has your back and wants to hear from you. Reach her by email, Twitter or Facebook.Turn To Tara podcast: Up close and personal with Andrea Stewart-Cousins - listen here
Turn To Tara podcast: Up close and personal with Andrea Stewart-Cousins - listen here
In her podcast debut, Tara Rosenblum sits down for an in-depth conversation with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Hear personal stories that the most powerful woman in New York politics has never shared before.In her podcast debut, Tara Rosenblum sits down for an in-depth conversation with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Hear personal stories that the most powerful woman in New York politics has never shared before.Ride-Share Reality: Who's responsible for children’s car seats?
Ride-Share Reality: Who's responsible for children’s car seats?
Our Turn to Tara investigative unit buckled down and did some digging to find out exactly who's responsible for car seat safety in ride-share vehicles – parents, drivers or both.Our Turn to Tara investigative unit buckled down and did some digging to find out exactly who's responsible for car seat safety in ride-share vehicles – parents, drivers or both.Turn To Tara: Hidden health dangers in e-cigarettes
Turn To Tara: Hidden health dangers in e-cigarettes
As more and more young people experiment with e-cigarette use, there are some hidden health dangers that have doctors and lawmakers taking notice.As more and more young people experiment with e-cigarette use, there are some hidden health dangers that have doctors and lawmakers taking notice.Turn To Tara: Palisades doctor uses breakthrough medical device to save father
Turn To Tara: Palisades doctor uses breakthrough medical device to save father
A breakthrough medical device that has the potential to save countless lives across the globe has already saved one life in the Hudson Valley.A breakthrough medical device that has the potential to save countless lives across the globe has already saved one life in the Hudson Valley.
