TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Federal authorities introduced the arrest of what they known as a “fake violinist” who is accused of amassing $80,000 utilizing a faux nonprofit.
According to a launch from ERO, a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customstoms Enforcement (ICE), 22-year-old Giovanni Radu, a citizen of Italy, entered the U S. as a nonimmigrant and “violated the terms of his admission.”
Authorities mentioned they have been first tipped about Radu after receiving a number of complaints of an aggressive panhandler who was making an attempt to gather cash for a charity.
Authorities mentioned Radu put up an indication in a public space that acknowledged his youngsters wanted meals. At the identical time, authorities mentioned Radu pretended to play the violin over a prerecorded music observe to trick passersby into believing he might play the violin and gather charitable donations.
According to his arrest report, Radu collected a complete of $80,000 in the final yr utilizing his faux nonprofit.
Radu was detained in Royal Palm Beach and faces various state costs together with; organized scheme to defraud, failure to register as a charitable group, failure to reveal information for charity, misrepresentation for solicitation of charity, soliciting charitable donation underneath false pretenses, offering false identify to legislation enforcement, carrying a hid weapon throughout a felony, and battery on a legislation enforcement officer.
“This individual flouted the limits of his immigration status, and our officers have done an outstanding job of imposing the consequences of his choices,” ERO Miami Field Operations Director Garrett Ripa mentioned. “The U.S. will not be a haven for those who take advantage of the immigration system.”