Mara Ficarra, a 60-year-old Long Island woman involved in a $1.5 million scam defrauding the elderly, escaped jail time on Monday, even though prosecutors highlighted that she has yet to pay back any of the stolen funds. From 2013 to 2018, Ficarra and her late husband ran a fraudulent “Who’s Who”-style directory scam, tricking thousands of victims.
In June 2022, Ficarra pleaded guilty to her part in the operation, but Judge Joanna Seybert postponed her sentencing, granting her two years to make restitution payments. So far, Ficarra has managed to save just $8,000 toward the $1.5 million owed, kept in an escrow account by her attorney, despite owning a Southampton house.
Prosecutors emphasized the financial and emotional impact on victims, 21 of whom have passed away over the last two years. However, Judge Seybert decided prison time was unwarranted, acknowledging Ficarra’s role as secondary to her late husband, John Ficarra, who masterminded the scheme. The judge also considered Ficarra’s obligations to her 86-year-old mother and her 20-year-old son, who struggles with anxiety.
Ficarra received a sentence of time served and three years of supervised release. Although federal guidelines suggested up to five years of imprisonment, the court showed leniency. Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated plans to seize Ficarra’s Southampton property to help compensate the victims.
The scam involved Ficarra’s company names like Remington Biographies Inc. and Mentorship America1 Inc., which sent misleading mailings offering directory listings for a $14 fee. The Ficarras then used victims’ bank details to forge checks for larger sums, amassing substantial profits.
Despite arguing she played a minor role, prosecutors pointed out her significant contributions, including recruiting family members to assist in the scam. Her attorney, Kevin Keating, stated that the court made a fair assessment of her circumstances.
