Former Bronx Non-Profit Exec Sentenced To Prison

By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

Former Bronx non-profit executive Richard Izquierdo Arroyo was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for fleecing the housing non-profit he ran of $115,000, of which he spent on lavish vacations, dinners and airline tickets.

In an attempt to sway the judge away from imprisoning him, Izquierdo Arroyo read a brief statement for the court asking that for mercy so that he and his domestic partner could continue raising two boys, ages 3 and 4-years-old, fathered by a mentally disabled cousin.

As Izquierdo Arroyo read from his statement, the judge interrupted him when he referred to his five-year scheme as a "mistake."

"It was also a crime," said Manhattan federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

As Hellerstein sentenced Izquierdo Arroyo Friday, the defendant sat stone-faced, the New York Post reported, a stark contrast to his co-conspirator, Margarita Villegas, who broke down during her sentencing, wailing like a baby as she was sentenced to 10-month prison for her role in the embezzlement scheme of SBCC Management Corporation., which managed two federally funded, low-income apartment buildings for elderly and disabled tenants in The Bronx.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hellerstein ordered Izquierdo Arroyo to make restitution and pay a $3,000 fine.

The looting duo admitted that they stole thousands of dollars over five years for personal luxuries, which included trips and dinners, illegal campaign donations and new flooring in the offices of Izquierdo Arroyo's grandmother, assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, and aunt city Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

It was also revealed in court that Izquierdo Arroyo and his gay partner hold political-patronage positions, with Arroyo serving as chief of staff to an unidentified state Assembly member, while his boyfriend works for an unidentified member of the city Council.

Officials said some of the stolen money paid for new flooring in the office of Arroyo's grandmother, Carmen Arroyo, and funded campaign expenses and interns for the assemblywoman and her daughter, city Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Neither politician has ever been charged in connection with the embezzlement scheme.