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‘Let Jhony Go’ - Protestors Demand Bodega Owner Be Set Free After Defending Self

Bodega Owner Facing Charges After Shooting Gunman with ‘Found’ Weapon Founder and spokesman for the United Bodegas of America Fernando Mateo (Center) is calling on the Bronx District Attorney to drop all charges against bodega owner Jhony Gomez during a rally on Elton Avenue. -Photo by David Greene By David Greene  Bronx Voice  December 17, 2024  Follow @Bronxvoice1 BRONX - A Bronx bodega owner is facing illegal weapons charges after he claimed to have found a stashed handgun in his public bathroom and used it against two alleged stickup men before he could turn it in to police. According to the United Bodegas of America (UBA), Jhony Gomez, the owner of Mi Gerizin Market at 777 Elton Avenue was behind the counter on Thanksgiving morning, November 28, when two masked men entered the store demanding cash. UBA claims Gomez was defending customers inside his store and himself when he f...
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Affordable Housing Scammer Pleads Guilty

Stole $27,000 from Housing Seekers


File photo


Threatened to Call ICE


BRONX - A Bronx woman admitted to stealing more than $27,000 in rent deposits from people seeking affordable housing apartments. When she failed to deliver the apartments, she threatened the victims to keep quiet by stating she would have them deported. 


Stephanie Antonio, 27, of East 182nd Street, pleaded guilty September 22, 2022 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus to third-degree Grand Larceny with a promised sentence of 1-3 years in prison. Judge Marcus ordered the defendant to pay $28,980 ($27,600 plus a five percent restitution surcharge) in restitution in monthly payments to the victims. If the defendant pays the restitution in full, she will replead to Petit Larceny and will be given probation, instead of serving time in prison.


“The defendant took deposits from people desperately looking for an affordable apartment and never delivered a key and finalized lease,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. “Not only did she steal more than $27,000 from nine people, but she also threatened several of the victims that she would call immigration authorities to have them deported. She pleaded guilty and has been ordered to pay restitution or face jail time. We will not tolerate these deplorable rent scams that hurt Bronx residents.”


According to the investigation, between May 17, 2019 and September 30, 2019, Antonio told victims she was an employee of a property management company and that she was a licensed realtor. Although she was briefly employed by the property management company, it was only to take photos for its Instagram page, and Antonio used that position to gain access to keys for apartments. The victims gave her $2,200-$4,000 deposits for apartments she could not deliver.


According to the investigation, Antonio intimidated multiple victims by threatening to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have them deported if they were to go to police. 


In one instance, she filed an assault case against one victim that was later dropped when the victim showed proof that she was working at the time.

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