ONLY ON ABC-7: Mail theft victim may never see suspect in court
ABC-7 filed an open records request to learn more about the victims of a mail theft scam allegedly run by Mario De Avila and Irvin Gonzalez, the woman apprehended by ICE outside the El Paso County Courthouse.
Police documents show that 15 people, many of them senior citizens, had important payments stolen from the mail.
Antonia Garcia was one of the victims. She said she found out her $667.32 payment was cashed, but not applied to her mortgage as she intended.
“Every month while I was waiting there was a late charge added to the account,” said Garcia. “I had to come up with more than $1,500 . We struggled.”
Garcia said she reported what happened to the police, and that they explained the money order indented to pay her mortgage was washed and deposited into Mario De Avila’s bank account.
“Everybody struggles for their money, people work hard,” said Garcia. “We only live by what we get from our SSI. I don’t have any hopes of ever getting my money back.”
The 70-year-old great-grandmother said this couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“My husband just had an open-heart surgery,” said Garcia. “I had a heart attack about four months ago. I’m one of the lucky ones to be alive right now.”
With theft and security a constant public safety concern the Greater El Paso Credit Union offered tips to safeguard your personal finances.
GECU said using online bill pay to make payments, and online banking to track your finances offers more security to your money and accounts.
They said if you mail any payments from your home mailbox to never raise the red flag.
ABC 7 mapped the 15 addresses of the victims, who were found from Socorro to Northeast and Central El Paso.
“What can we do,” asked Garcia. “We have to live one day at a time, you know? Justice will be done in the long run. If not in this life here on earth, than somewhere else.”
Thursday, Gonzalez pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Illegal Re-entry. The judge sentenced Gonzalez to “time served.” It is unclear if the undocumented transgender woman will be deported to Mexico. She has previously been deported seven times.
Gonzalez was arrested at the county courthouse moments after filing a protective order against De Avila.
