Marie Castaldo, the founder and executive director of the Queens International Film Festival of New York City, was arrested and charged with scheme to defraud, grand larceny, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and harassment, for defrauding four vendors of approximately $14,000 worth of goods and services.
During the 2007 and 2008, Queens International Film Festival, Castaldo allegedly reached out to Stacy Lavender of Ballyhoo Central, an advertising company, Daniel Nuxoll of Rooftop Films, Inc., a cinematography company, Leonid Fishman of Big Apple Rentals, audio and visual equipment rental, and James Hill, a freelance projectionist to work in one of the two festivals .
During the 2007 and 2008 festivals, Castaldo purportedly paid a small amount of the fees owed after using all of the 4 vendors’ supplies and/or services. When the vendors confronted Castaldo, she allegedly threatened them.
If convicted, Castaldo faces a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison.
