An accused Manhattan con man ripped off three people in a construction project scam while out on bail from charges that he swindled thousands of dollars from a string of smitten girlfriends, The Post has learned.
Mauricio Palomino, 44, falsely claimed he was a general contractor hired to complete a $300,000 apartment renovation in 2015 — just months after he was arrested for scamming his exes, prosecutors charge.
Palamino, whose LinkedIn profile claims he’s the CEO of high-end firm Palomino Construction, hired an architect and an interior designer then allegedly paid them with checks that bounced.
Meanwhile, the client who’d hired him for the project shelled out $272,000 for the upscale renovation, but by June of 2016 only about $50,00 worth of work had been done, according to prosecutors.
Palomino had made “several misrepresentations” to his client in order to get paid for tasks he had not completed, said Assistant District Attorney Casey Conzatti at his arraignment last August. He pleaded not guilty to grand larceny, scheme to defraud and other raps.
He allegedly told the victim that he had ordered floors, appliances and fixtures, that he had obtained permits and that he had paid subcontractors — none of which was true, Conzatti said in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Justice Charles Solomon ordered the smooth-talking hustler held without bail. His defense lawyer, David Touger, declined to comment.
Palomino’s prior case for ripping off ex-girlfriends Staci Krell, Allison Goodman, Debra D’Aquino and Dina D’Angelo for more than $80,000 is still pending.
The studly Palomino allegedly racked up charges on their credit cards or accepted money that his paramours thought were loans for rent, travel and other expenses — but he never paid them back, court papers allege.
His latest squeeze, aspiring TV host Chrissy Oakes, even posted his $50,000 bail in the first case.
Prosecutors said he has two prior convictions in New Jersey and one in Massachusetts for similar offenses involving ex-girlfriends.