“'Heiress' scams developers, jewelry stores, police say”

'Heiress' scams developers, jewelry stores, police say

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 02:24 AM PDT

A woman who posed as a rich socialite purchased more than $1 million in New Hope property and more than $150,000 in jewelry with worthless checks, officials said.

A woman who posed as a wealthy heiress in New Hope scammed her way into the purchase of more than $1 million in borough property and more than $150,000 worth of jewelry from town-based jewelers, police said Wednesday.

Nydia Neubauer, a 63-year-old native of Puerto Rico, wrote a series of worthless checks to pay for the jewelry. The woman, whose aliases include Nydia Luz Vega and Nydia Vega Reeves, also fraudulently entered into real estate settlements on a second New Hope property and a $5.38 million residence in Philadelphia's posh Rittenhouse Square, police said.

Neubauer, who has allegedly masqueraded as a rich socialite across the country, was charged with felonies that include multiple counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, identity theft and forgery.

"Her MO is to ingratiate herself to high-end people and make what hay she can," said Cpl. Matthew Zimmerman of New Hope police. "She is reasonably good at what she does."

Neubauer, who has claimed she grew up with Ralph Lauren, is incarcerated in Monmouth County, N.J., on charges from similar scams she is accused of perpetuating in the Garden State.

Upper Southampton police have filed theft-related charges against Neubauer, and authorities in New York are investigating her for alleged swindling.

Reports from The New York Times and the New York Post indicate she lived a high society life of expensive restaurants and swanky hotels in New York City, all allegedly through fraud and bounced checks.

Police in Upper Southampton could not be reached for comment on their case against Neubauer Wednesday afternoon. The local district court declined to release the criminal complaint because Neubauer had not been served with it yet.

New Hope police began investigating Neubauer after New Hope-based developer George E. Michael contacted officers regarding suspicious real estate dealings with the woman he knew as Lucy Luz George, an affidavit of probable cause states.

An investigation soon revealed that the supposed widowed socialite was using the Social Security number of Luz Vega, a man who was born in 1928 and is now dead, the affidavit states.

Further investigation revealed that Neubauer entered into a $1,010,442 settlement with Michael for a property located at 42 W. Mechanic St., said records. The check she used to pay for the property was returned unpaid, said records.

"She got occupancy of the residence and occupied it. For all intents and purposes it was a done deal until everything fell apart," said Zimmerman.

The criminal complaint indicates Neubauer also stiffed Michael when she gave him $85,500 as a down payment on a property at 263 N. Main St. and a $319 check for various household items.

Neubauer continued her scheming when she entered into an agreement of sale with Peter Matherly, an agent representing Addison-Wolfe Real Estate of New Hope, for a property at 237 S. 18th Street in Philadelphia, records said. The purchase price was $5,380,000, according to the criminal complaint.

Zimmerman said all the properties have been recovered by their owners/sellers and have no legitimate connection to Neubauer.

Neubauer used worthless checks to buy $154,743 worth of jewelry from Zikos Jewelers and Dimitri Politicos, both New Hope-based vendors, records said.

She made jewelry buys of $59,345 on June 4 and purchases of $42,589 and $7,844 on June 5, said records. Neubauer bought $44,965 worth of jewelry on June 19, said records.

When Zikos contacted Neubauer about bounced checks, she provided an American Express card number, records said. The charge was initially approved, but later denied, said records.

Neubauer also owes money to El Mariachi grocery store in New Hope in connection with a money order she made from the store, police said.

It was unclear when Neubauer might be returned to Bucks County for prosecution.

Christopher Ruvo can be reached at 215-345-3147 or cruvo@phillyBurbs.com

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