Alleged East End Con Woman Indicted on 13 More Counts

An alleged con woman already accused of defrauding several East End businesses, while at the same time reportedly driving around in a Porsche and purchasing thousands of dollars in lingerie, was indicted on 13 more charges early Tuesday afternoon at Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverside.

Nydia Vega, who has been held at Suffolk County Jail since pleading not guilty to seven charges in September, allegedly skipped out on the bill for more than $1,500 worth of work done to her Porsche Carrerra, stole more than $2,000 worth of planting material from Hampton Nursery, and issued more than a half dozen bad checks — among other charges — from late May through July 2009. The prior seven charges allegedly took place from mid to late May of the same year.

Vega did not have the opportunity to plea to the second indictment, as County Court Judge Martin Efman called for a "pre-plea sentencing report" to answer some questions regarding Vega's rap sheet.

Assistant District Attorney Jodi Franzese said Vega has been sentenced six times in upstate jails in the past 30 years, a statement Vega shook her head at. The district attorney's office also alleges that law enforcement records show Vega has 17 aliases, four social security numbers and two dates of birth.

"In order to resolve any issues that are before the court regarding Ms. Vega, the court would like to have pre-plea sentencing report and see what all these factors are in her lifetime," Efman said. "There seems to be quite a history. And we don't know what is accurate and what is inaccurate."

The pre-plea date is set for Feb. 3.

Vega's attorney, Susan Ambro of the Legal Aid Society, said the investigation would narrow down the number of alleged bills her client racked up and for how much, determine where some of her funds came from and look into Vega's past. Ambro was unsure if Franzese's statements regarding Vega's past sentences were true.

In September, Vega pleaded not guilty to two counts of third degree grand larceny — reportedly stealing some $27,000 worth of goods from in Southampton and bouncing an $18,900 check at a Riverhead Harley Davidson dealer. She also pleaded not guilty to fourth degree grand larceny and four counts of issuing a bad check.

Efman set bail for the second indictment at $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash, despite prosecutors' request for $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash bail, which remains Vega's bail for her first set of counts. If she is able to post bail on Feb. 3, Efman said, a bail source hearing will be held to determine the source of the funds.

Officials said Vega was originally arrested in Monmouth County, New Jersey for issuing bad checks last August. She was subsequently extradited to Long Island, where she faces the charges against her.