Rent Scammers Among Those Targeted By Brooklyn DA In Recent Real Estate Scam Sweep

In Brooklyn, New York, the New York Daily News recent report on indictments obtained by the Brooklyn District Attorney against 12 people in unrelated real estate scams described the following alleged rent scams ensnared by his probe:

• Earl Davis placed an ad on Craigslist and collected a full year's rent in advance after giving the victim a forged lease,

• Correction Officer Margareth Blanc collected more than $30,000 in federal rent subsidies with forged applications while living in her sister's apartment,

• Deric Nelson worked a phony deed scam, making it look like he owned a building he'd already sold - then renting vacant apartments.

Reportedly, in one of the "phony landlord" rent scams, the suspect allegedly pocketed $16,250.(1)

Source: 3 lawyers and correction officer among 12 charged with real estate fraud.

See also, See also, Kings County District Attorney press release: Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, New York State Senator Carl Kruger And United States Senator Charles E. Schumer Announce Charges Against 12 People, For Real Estate And Mortgage Fraud.

(1) In addition, a fourth suspect, Todd Graham, was bagged on charges of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, for allegedly placing an ad on Craigslist for a rental apartment in a building he neither owned nor managed, and then pocketing the first month’s rent and security deposit from two different people, for the same apartment, according to the Brooklyn DA's office.