State orders "bondsman" to halt work
Officials say he isn't licensed, and he took money from customers who weren't bailed out.
By Felisa Cardona
Denver Post Staff Writer
A man posing as a bail bondsman took money from people who expected to get bailed out of jail, but their bonds were never posted, state authorities said Tuesday.
Joseph Gorrocino, 29, is not a licensed bail bondsman, and investigators say he probably just pocketed the money.
The Division of Insurance has issued a cease-and-desist order against Gorrocino, and Denver police are investigating him, said Geoffrey Hier, spokesman for the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
Attempts to reach Gorrocino for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Several people were victimized over the past several months throughout the metro area, Hier said. Victims contacted the Division of Insurance because the agency regulates licenses for bail bond agents.
In one case, Gorrocino took cash collateral in the amount of $747.50 and never posted bail, according to the cease-and-desist order.
Another time, Gorrocino never posted bail for a person who paid about $1,500 to get out of jail, the record shows.
Gorrocino previously worked for Heavenly Bail Bonds, owned by Amor Angel Trujillo Portugal at 60 Federal Blvd. in Denver, Hier said. Trujillo's license was pulled by the Division of Insurance in 2005 for a variety of violations, according to the agency.
Gorrocino used his former connection to Heavenly Bail Bonds to prey on victims, Hier said.
Bail bond agents are required to be licensed by the state of Colorado. Consumers can check to see if a person is licensed by visiting the Division of Insurance website at
www.dora.state.co.us/insurance.
Anyone who had bail bond dealings with Gorrocino is urged to call the Division of Insurance at 303-894-7490.
