DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 1997          TAG: 9711190491

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   87 lines

WELL-TRAVELED CON MAN'S SCAMS ENDS WITH AN ANONYMOUS TIP

The trail was colder than an Eskimo Pie in February. Fernando Zapico, con artist extraordinaire, had disappeared. Again.

For 45 years, authorities believe, Zapico had ripped off folks up and down the Eastern Seaboard, posing as an accountant or tax adviser, always vanishing just as his victims caught on.

Zapico arrived in Virginia Beach in 1983, calling himself Carlos Garcia. He spent at least four years stealing from the close-knit Hispanic community, taking tax refunds and church money. Then he disappeared again. That was 1994.

In September, investigators caught a break. An anonymous woman watching a rerun of ``Unsolved Mysteries'' called the 1-800 tipline and gave an address, a phone number and two names for the fugitive. Zapico was arrested in Miami Beach, Fla., where he was working for a Catholic church.

On Tuesday in Norfolk's federal court, Zapico - finally using his real name and speaking in heavily accented English - pleaded guilty to six counts of bank fraud, credit card fraud and other felonies committed in Virginia Beach and South Carolina.

It was the first conviction for a man who, authorities say, has flouted the law for most of his 71 years.

In court Tuesday, Zapico walked slowly, with the aid of a walker, clad in a white T-shirt and a prisoner's orange jumpsuit. He was unfailingly polite, answering the judge's repeated questions with ``Yes, Your Honor'' and ``Guilty, Your Honor.''

Zapico could be sentenced to a maximum of 73 years in prison, up to $3 million in fines and restitution to all his victims. He also could be deported after serving any prison sentence.

Zapico is a native of Argentina and has never become an American citizen, although he came to this country in 1952.

Prosecutor Alan M. Salsbury declined to say what punishment the government will seek. Zapico has agreed to forfeit at least $39,564 from his bank accounts.

Investigators say Zapico wreaked havoc for decades.

``He worked his way up the coast, every state,'' said C.A. Berg, a special investigator with the Internal Revenue Service's inspection office. ``This guy is a premier con man. He's a genius, if the truth be known.''

In Hampton Roads, Zapico was a loved and trusted friend in the Hispanic community. In time, he became president of the parish council of the Hispanic Apostolate Cristo Rey, which provided immigration information, job-training skills, translations, doctor referrals and a hot line for battered women.

So successful were Zapico's efforts that, in 1992, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan gave the apostolate the annual ministry award.

``He appeared to be a very caring person who was concerned about other people, who was willing to do anything to help another person. He appeared to be just a wonderful person, '' Sister Barbara Gerwe, pastoral coordinator for Hispanic Apostolate Cristo Rey, said in 1995.

But Zapico was also a crook. Prosecutors say he:

Defrauded the Amphibious Base Federal Credit Union out of $23,653. He convinced a woman to buy a $25,000 certificate of deposit from the credit union, secretly added his name as a joint account holder, then borrowed money against the CD without paying it back.

Embezzled $33,734 that four families had given him to pay their federal taxes.

Forged a woman's signature on federal tax refunds, fraudulently collecting $4,214.

Forged an endorsement on a $2,208 tax refund check to Woodland Avenue Baptist Church in Norfolk.

Fraudulently obtained four credit cards in a parishioner's name, then made purchases totaling $5,633.

Stole more than $50,000 from several companies in South Carolina.

Had two illegal guns.

Registered to vote in Virginia, although he was not a citizen. He used the name Carlos Garcia.

Indeed, Zapico was a man of many aliases. In Hampton Roads he was Carlos Garcia. In South Carolina he was John Rochels. Elsewhere he was Numael Prieto, Fred Rochells or Margano Sanchez Rivera.

When he was caught in Florida, Zapico was using two new names, including his mother's maiden name, Araneda. Investigators are not sure if he swindled people there.

``He had to have some way to survive since 1993,'' said Thomas S. Sochor, special agent for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. ``He didn't eat the wallpaper.''

Zapico will be sentenced Feb. 24. Many victims are expected to testify.

``My concern is that Carlos not have the opportunity to do the same thing to another community,'' Sister Barbara said Tuesday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

For 45 years, authorities believe, Fernando Zapico has ripped off

folks up and down the East Coast. KEYWORDS: TAX FRAUD FUGITIVE ARREST

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