Man allegedly defrauded pizzeria in Miami Springs and stole names and customers

MIAMI SPRINGS – The owner of a popular pizzeria who was the victim of a plot that allegedly stole his restaurant's name and customers and damaged his reputation is seeking justice in an unusual way.

Jesus Roman, owner of Roman's Pizzeria for 40 years, did not ask authorities to sentence the suspect to a long prison term. Nor did Roman demand an apology.

“I want him not to use the name of my restaurant, but if he uses his real name, he'll make the right food,” Roman said. “He could have his own business. He can do his own thing. It's his own name. There's nothing wrong with that. We're all here to work and make ends meet. I appreciate that. I would love that.”

Jose Marti-Alvarez, 56, is accused of assault and organized fraud after he distributed fliers with Roman's name and another phone number in the doors of hotel guests staying along the Northwest 36th Street Corridor near Miami International Airport, police said.

Tourists who had bought food using the number on the flyer complained that their food was not properly cooked, parts were missing and the prices sometimes seemed unfair to them, according to the investigators and Roman.

The real Roman faced customer anger at least twice a week, he said. Some of those customers criticized the restaurant with bad online reviews. It's been an ongoing problem for years, Roman said. But Roman didn't complain to police about the problem until an angry customer showed up at the restaurant after hours, he said. The business owner was concerned about the safety of his employees, he said.

“We spoke to the police chief,” Roman said. “They started to take action. They put up 'No Entry' signs in the hotels.”

A hotel manager confronted Marti-Alvarez about his flyers on Monday, investigators said. As he was leaving the hotel, Marti-Alvarez struck the hotel manager with a car, police said, and officers later arrested him.

Marti-Alvarez has since been released from prison on bail.