Party scam infuriates locals

LYNN – What is supposed to be the most magical night of a young Hispanic girl’s life, her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday party, has been turned into a nightmare for many teens in Lynn, Revere, Chelsea and Everett – all because of party planner extraordinaire Donna Garcia.Known for throwing whimsical parties for young girls as they make their transition into womanhood, Garcia, who was born Jose Donaldo Garcia, is alleged to have promised parties, taken lofty deposits and then vanished without an explanation.Ford Street resident Waleska Muriel, 13, said Garcia promised to throw her an elaborate party, similar to that of a wedding for her Quinceañera in two years, but is now nowhere to be found.”This woman led us to believe she would set up the party,” she said. “But she scammed us.”Muriel’s mother, Elizabeth, said she is furious with Garcia, who she said she last spoke with on June 21.”This girl walked away with a bunch of money and I’m (angry),” she said. “The last time I spoke to her she sounded normal, but was in a rush and I started to get nervous.”Muriel said she and her daughter were introduced to Garcia, who lives in Lynn, in April on a recommendation from a friend and were thrilled by her presentation of what she said she could offer for the large-scale party.”We talked about dresses, cakes and everything seemed so nice, so I gave her a check for $1,000 that day and then $200 in cash in May and then $200 after,” she said. “It’s a lot of money and I’m hurt, not just because of the economy that we’re in, but that she came to my house and hurt my daughter. She broke my kid’s heart.”Muriel filed a report with the Lynn police July 12, and since then, two other unidentified victims have done the same.In Revere, police Captain Michael Murphy said the department has received several complaints of alleged theft involving Garcia, with the latest reported July 12.”A (Revere) resident said she made a $3,500 deposit on a $7,000 contract for a birthday party scheduled for June 2011 and hasn’t been able to get a hold of Garcia,” he said. “The victim contacted Garcia’s mother, who told her she left the country and went to Honduras. Another person told her that she’s in Florida.”Another incident was previously reported to Revere police June 28, where Garcia was said to have left town with $9,000 for a planned Quinceañera party.”That person said she met Garcia at the Beauty Palace (494 Revere St., Revere), where she worked and said many other women and couples have given her money for parties a year in advance,” Murphy said. “She paid $3,500 in cash at one point and then gave Garcia $5,500 in cash.”At this point, Murphy said since there hasn’t been an arrest, the victims have to wait until their scheduled event comes and goes without happening before they will have a case of larceny over $250.”It sounds like this ship has already sailed,” he said. “She has not yet not delivered on services, so it’s really just a matter of unanswered phone calls right now.”Yet another victim who wished to remain anonymous, said she lost upwards of $600 worth of merchandise that she sold to Garcia and was not compensated for, and claims the party-planner has made off with money from more than 30 clients.”She does bad things,” she said. “I saw her two weeks ago and she said nothing about what was going on. She would always go to Foxwoods (casino) and I think that’s where she spent all of the money with her boyfriend.”As of now, Erika Gully-Santiago, spokeswoman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said the alleged thefts are under investigation by her office and the Chelsea police, but stressed that no one has been arrested yet.”Anyone with similar thefts is urged to contact his or her local police department,” she said.