Marissa Odi Gonzales has been arrested recently as reported by Detective Ruth Moran for scamming multiple victims for more that $100,000.
As of press time. she has been released, and a virtual court hearing has been set.
Marissa Odi Gonzalez was the subject of this rally that was held in front of her restaurant, The Chelsea Place at Cosburn and Pape, organized and attended by her many victims.
It highlighted how widespread and destructive the unchecked scam and swindling activities have become in the Filipino community. Covered by ABS-CBN Media Network, the rally was shown all over the world. The placards waved by the rallyists shouted aloud their anger and pitiful stories.
They strongly denounced Marissa, citing her deceitfulness, then how vicious she can be when warding off her victims. The swindles ranged from borrowing money to immigration and investment schemes, all of which were meant to defraud her victims.
Caught unaware, a surprised Marissa and family called the police on the rallyists, but police upon seeing a peaceful rally and learning of the reasons behind it, allowed them to proceed. They took notes of the scam complaints and grievances against Marissa.
It attracted the attention of passersby and alerted the whole neighborhood of what kind of an operator the local restaurant owner was. Many other victims have since become aware and have come out to join the group of complainants.
The rally has opened up how Marissa operated her immigration scam, promising that she can help in the sponsorship of relatives to come to Canada, when in fact she is not a licensed immigration consultant. People who fell for her come-ons and paid in advance soon realized they were conned when nothing happened with their applications.
When they got back to Marissa, that was when her viciousness kicked in to stonewall on them. From denials to threats, she scared them off. In one case she even sent a victim a “Harassment Report” that supposedly came from the Toronto Police Service, except of course it was a fake document manufactured to stop the victim from contacting her.
It was revealed that Marissa directed her victims to deposit their payments to different bank accounts, some in the name of her husband, some to her family members, and even other relatives from her home town in Viga, Catanduanes.
Marissa came up with various business schemes she used to bait for investments, among them was MG Consulting at Pape and Cosburn area, Orthotics, a Massage clinic, and a Biohealthsource firm. She peddled dreams of profits if you invested your money in her business plans, except unknown to the victims they were being conned.
When the first victims complained to the authorities, they were appalled to find there were already hundreds like them that paid Marissa large sums of money but got nothing for what was promised.
Many victims were kababayans from Viga, Catanduanes, some are even close relatives and friends of Marissa and her family. What is worse is that she has waged her immigration recruiting activities from all over the world.
So imagine now how widespread Marissa has gone through and how many lives she has pained and destroyed. To say these people are fiercely wishing for her karma is an understatement, you know how wicked it is when fellow kababayans put a curse on you, it can be horrible.
What everyone is crying for now is justice, swift justice so Marissa can be stopped on her tracts.
Were it not for the devotion and sense of compassion of community advocates and righteous-thinking kababayans in helping out, victims would still be feeling so helpless and hopeless.
That is why we in Balita express appreciation in their efforts. In particular we cite the Elite Crusaders group who toil behind the scenes. They are steadfast in their continuing assurances to victims to not give up, but seek help from authorities.
For those that have not come out yet please go to the nearest police station and tell your story. Marissa Odi Gonzalez is already in the court system with a hefty complaint file, and court hearings will definitely resume as soon as the pandemic is over. It is not too late for you to be part of the group of complainants.****