Manhattan Jury Slams Phony Rental Agent For Clipping $77K+ In Upfront Deposits From Desperate NYC Tenants Seeking 'Section 8' Housing Placement

From the Office of the New York County District Attorney:

• Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., [] announced the conviction of JOSIE ALMONTE, 33, for perpetrating a large-scale real estate fraud scheme that targeted sixteen victims. On March 9, 2011, a jury in New York State Supreme Court found the defendant guilty of 28 counts of Grand Larceny, Scheme to Defraud, and Criminal Impersonation.

• “The defendant launched her scheme to defraud vulnerable, low-income families in the middle of a nationwide economic and housing crisis,” said District Attorney Vance. "JOSIE ALMONTE preyed upon individuals who obtained or were seeking federal housing assistance, gained their trust and then stole their money. I would like to commend the jury for recognizing the depth of her deception in pursuit of her personal financial gain.”

• As proven at trial, ALMONTE falsely represented herself as a real estate agent to sixteen victims. In some cases, she handed out business cards that stated she was a real estate representative for “Empire Home Sales.” In 2008, ALMONTE briefly worked as a Spanish translator for an agent who worked with Empire Home Sales, but she was never issued a business card by that company.

• ALMONTE also accepted cash deposits ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 from some of her victims, and promised them placement in the Section 8 federal housing program, which provides rent subsidies for eligible low-income families. Nearly all of these victims had Section 8 housing vouchers that were close to their expiration date, so they were in desperate need of housing. [...] ALMONTE’S victims were primarily from the Dominican community in Northern Manhattan.

For the Manhattan DA press release, see District Attorney Vance Announces Conviction In Real Estate Fraud Case (JOSIE ALMONTE Convicted of Scamming Victims Out of More Than $77,000).