D.A. Bragg Announces Guilty Plea Including Full Restitution To Food Delivery Workers In Fraudulent Investment Scheme

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the guilty plea of MAURICIO SEVILLA, 42, for stealing thousands of dollars from food delivery workers by convincing them to invest in his purported food delivery company, "Time 4 Comida." SEVILLA pleaded guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Under the terms of his plea, if he pays full restitution of $7,485 and is not arrested for 18 months, he can replead to Scheme to Defraud in the Second Degree.

"Food delivery workers trusted Mauricio Sevilla to invest their hard-earned money into a new food delivery company, only to learn that their money was stolen and the company was never created," said District Attorney Bragg. "With today's guilty plea, these New Yorkers will get their hard-earned money back. If you have been scammed, please call our Financial Frauds Bureau at 212-335-8900."

According to court documents and statements made on the record, and as admitted in the defendant's guilty plea, between September 2021 and February 2022, SEVILLA stole approximately $7,485 from six food delivery workers. He solicited investments by falsely promising that he would create a food delivery company, "Time 4 Comida," which would allow them to earn a better living for themselves and their families.

Each victim met SEVILLA through mutual connections in the food delivery business. He approached each victim by asking them if they would invest in his new food delivery company, "Time 4 Comida," in exchange for shares.

In addition to investments, the victims paid for purported uniforms, application fees, and a subscription to use the company's mobile application.

In some instances, he pitched his business concept to groups of food delivery workers and met with his victims in parks across Manhattan.

SEVILLA directed some of the victims to a Facebook page for the purported company, which he said would operate in Lower Manhattan and be more successful than other food delivery companies. The victims sent SEVILLA the money through Zelle and checks.

Once the victims sent him money, he stopped responding to their messages and calls. The victims never received the return of their investments or shares in the company, which was never created.

Assistant D.A. Matthew Jacinto (Financial Frauds Unit) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Luis Morales (Chief of the Immigrant Affairs Unit), Assistant D.A. Kofi Sansculotte (Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Assistant D.A. Judy Salwen (Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division), and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division).

Financial Frauds Bureau Program Coordinator Emely Salazar and Investigator Keven Polanco assisted with the investigation. Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations Principal Financial Investigator Jesse Mihalik and Forensic Accountant Investigator Kenneth Zorn also provided assistance under the supervision of Irene Serrapica (Deputy Chief of the Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations and Robert Demarest (Chief of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations).

District Attorney Bragg thanked Hildalyn Colón Hernández, formerly of Los Deliveristas Unidos and the Workers Justice Project.

Defendant Information:

MAURICIO SEVILLA

New York, NY

Convicted:

• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count

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