DA: Defendant ‘Preyed on Trust of Latino Community’
A Rockville Centre man was charged with grand larceny and scheme to defraud for allegedly stealing $100,000 from multiple victims in an investment scheme.
Throughout 2025 and in early 2026, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office received several complaints against Arnulfo Castillo a/k/a Alexander Castilllo Carias Arnulfo regarding real estate property investments. The victims claimed the defendant promised high returns on investments meant for residential property acquisitions and renovations, but failed to deliver the payouts or return the funds.
On August 2, 2024, a developer agreed to purchase a property located at 1280 Cambria Street in Uniondale from the defendant’s business, Castillo Acquisitions LLC., and remitted a $40,000 down payment to the defendant.
The victim entered into a residential contract of sale with the defendant on September 20, 2024, with a closing date set for on or before November 4, 2024. After the closing date passed, the defendant allegedly avoided all requests made by the victim to close the transaction and did not return the down payment. A subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly had no ownership interest in the Cambria Street property, and thus no right to enter into the property sales contract with the victim.
On August 14, 2024, another victim, who had a professional relationship with the defendant, paid the defendant $60,000 to invest in a property located at 163 Grant Avenue in Mineola.
The parties executed an Affidavit of Confession of Judgment that purported the funds would be used for renovation costs and other expenses related to the property. The victim made the check payable to the defendant’s company.
The defendant allegedly promised the victim that he would receive $3,000 per month for six months, followed by a full return of his initial capital investment. The victim never received any monthly funds or the return of his initial investment pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
According to the investigation, the defendant allegedly had no ownership interest in the Grant Avenue property and did not spend any money on renovations or other expenses related to the property. Instead, the defendant allegedly deposited the victims’ funds into his various bank accounts and spent the money on personal and unrelated business expenses.
The investigation revealed a pattern in which the defendant found and targeted his victims through organizations serving the Latino communities in Nassau County.
The defendant was arrested by NCDA detective investigators on June 30, 2026.
Arnulfo Castillo a/k/a Alexander Castilllo Carias Arnulfo was arraigned later that day before Judge Michael Alpert on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a Class C felony); Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a Class D felony); and two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (a Class E felony).
“This defendant allegedly pocketed victims’ investment money after promising substantial returns on residential properties he did not even own,” said Nassau DA Anne Donnelly. “Arnulfo Castillo a/k/a Alexander Castilllo Carias Arnulfo allegedly preyed on the trust of the Latino community, using local organizations as a smokescreen to exploit families looking for legitimate investment opportunities. We believe there may be more victims, and I urge anyone who thinks they were targeted by this defendant to contact my office.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released to pretrial services. His next court date is scheduled for July 15, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to five to 15 years in prison.