A man from Frederick, Md., is admitting that he posed as a diplomat from the Dominican Republic in a fundraising scam in New York, according to the Associated Press.
Francisco Alberto Gautreaux Calcano pretended to be a former Dominican Ambassador to the U.S., prosecutors say. He then solicited donations -- including some from a New York state senator -- to transport utility vehicles to the Dominican Republic.
Those vehicles did not exist, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The suspect stole $15,000 in all, according to the AP. New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat became suspicious of Calcono after he contacted the lawmaker's office, and called the authorities.
Calcano pleaded guilty yesterday to scheming to defraud. His attorney hasn't returned a call seeking comment, the AP reports.
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