Accused Con Artists Caught Working Funeral Ruse in Alhambra

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALHAMBRA - A fake funeral and pleas for donations led to the arrest of a father and his child February 18.

Patrol officers spotted the juvenile flashing a funeral donation sign at Valley Boulevard and Fremont Avenue. When pressed with questions from the officers, the juvenile cracked.

“When questioned, he admitted to collecting money and said his dad had dropped him off with the sign, making this a family affair,” according to the Alhambra Police Department in a written statement.

Police located the father, 40-year-old Gheorghe Romana Gilica, a La Habra resident, and took him into custody, along with the juvenile.

Gilica was booked on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was issued a citation and released the same day, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

The child’s fate is not immediately known, although the child was likely released to a parent or guardian.

Gilica is no stranger to this type of grift, according to arrest records obtained by SGV CityWatch. He was arrested November 18, 2024 in Oak Hills along Highway 395 and Main Street by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office. He was booked on suspicion of theft by false pretenses.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.