A Southern California man was arrested after he allegedly set up dates with at least ten women and then left when it came time to pay the bill. Police said that for the past two years, Paul Guadalupe Gonzales has used online dating sites and apps to meet women so he can take advantage of them.
Gonzales would set up a date with his victims at various restaurants in Southern California and order expensive food and multiple drinks.
“He ordered a salad with shrimp, a filet mignon, yes, he went all out,” one of the women told KCBS. She was saddled with a $130 bill after Gonzales told her he needed to run to his car to get his phone charger.
“All of a sudden he’s all, oh, my phone’s dying and I’m waiting on the call from my mom about my aunt. I’m going to go to the car to get my charger and then my first comment to him when he got up was oh what, you’re not coming back?”
Police said that eight of his victims paid for the bill themselves, while the restaurants picked up the tab for the other two women. In total, police said Gonzales managed to get just under $1000 worth of free food and drinks from his victims.
Gonzales is facing seven counts of extortion, two counts of attempted extortion and one count of grand theft, which are all felonies. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts each of defrauding an innkeeper and petty theft. He faces up to 13 years in state prison if he is convicted.