Impersonating a popular pizzeria to deceive unsuspecting tourists, a Florida man named Jose Marti-Alvarez is facing charges of “falsely advertising” his business as the well-known Roman’s Pizzeria. Marti-Alvarez specifically targeted hotels near Miami International Airport, where he operated his fraudulent scheme for several years. By capitalizing on Roman’s Pizzeria’s reputation, which had received a favorable review from pizza critic Dave Portnoy, Marti-Alvarez tricked customers into purchasing undercooked and overpriced food.
As a result of Marti-Alvarez’s actions, the real Roman’s Pizzeria experienced a decline in its reputation. Customers who fell victim to the scam complained to the Better Business Bureau and left negative reviews online, tarnishing the pizza joint’s name. Jesus Roman, the owner of Roman’s Pizzeria, revealed that he had been dealing with this issue for years and became aware of the scam when upset customers started contacting his shop, expecting food that they had ordered but never received.
In response to the mounting complaints, Roman filed a police report. Marti-Alvarez was eventually apprehended and taken into custody on charges of “organized scheme to defraud.” Additionally, he faced an aggravated battery charge for striking a hotel staff member with his vehicle while attempting to flee the scene. During his court appearance, Marti-Alvarez was ordered to avoid the Days Inn, the hotel where the incident occurred.
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and a renowned pizza critic, had reviewed Roman’s Pizzeria in April 2022. He praised the pizzeria’s plain cheese pizza, rating it a “solid 7.4.” Portnoy emphasized the outstanding quality of the crust, describing it as fresh and light with a good undercarriage. He dubbed this type of pizza a “football pizza,” perfect for enjoying while watching Sunday kick-offs. Portnoy expressed his confidence in the pizza, stating that it could be ordered without disappointment “100 out of 100 times.”
Jesus Roman had a stern message for Marti-Alvarez, the man responsible for damaging his business’s reputation. Roman urged him to do things properly if he intended to take such actions. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of fraudulent practices and the importance of maintaining a reputable business.
