Hispanic chamber comes under fire over bounced check allegations

The Yuma County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is embroiled in controversy over checks allegedly written on insufficient funds to vendors for services provided for a Mexican Independence Day celebration in Yuma.

At least three vendors say checks the Hispanic chamber wrote to them to pay for their services bounced when they tried to cash them.

The chamber, formed a year ago, organized the celebration that took place Sept. 16-18 at Desert Sun Stadium.

Jose Vasquez, a Spanish-language radio personality in Yuma, said he received a $500 payment for publicity he provided for the event, but that his bank returned the check to him because it was written on an account with insufficient funds.

“I was with the vice president of the chamber and he promised me they would pay me, but they gave me the runaround, and I decided to take my complaint to the county attorney.”

Vasquez said that when he brought the complaint to the county attorney's office, “I found out that several (vendors) received checks without sufficient funds and the bad thing is it tarnishes the image of those of us as Hispanics, and the truth is that you can't trust in a chamber where people do that.”

The chamber vice president, David Lerma, declined to comment, instead referring a Bajo El Sol reporter to the chamber's sergeant-at-arms, David Cortinas. Cortinas said he could not comment, on the advice from his attorney.

David Lara, another of the affected vendors, said he received a $200 check written on an account with insufficient funds for providing ice for the event. He said he did not take the check to the county attorney's office because the chamber ended up providing him the funds he was owed.

Lara praised Lerma for covering the debt, but he described the situation as “regrettable.”

“We know that there were several more people who were affected, and this is regrettable because the chamber is just starting to get established in the community.”

Lara said what happened has reinforced his opinion that another chamber is not necessary in the area when several already exist in Yuma County.

“What we need is help to attract more customers,” said Lara, a San Luis businessman, “and we can get that from the chambers that are already here (in Yuma), in Somerton and San Luis.”

Efren Frias, an independent publicist, said he received a $450 check for the services he provided for the event.

He said he likewise received a check written on insufficient funds, in turn making it difficult for him to cover his expenses. He said the chamber later provided him the funds he was owed.

The county attorney's Victims Services Division handles complaints of checks written on accounts with insufficient funds. The division's Raquel Lopez said she could not confirm the existence of any complaints against the Hispanic chamber.