To almost two dozen potential New York renters, Juan Valoy seemed to be an trustworthy actual property dealer. However prosecutors say he was a pretend who pocketed $105,000 of their cash.
The phony dealer has pleaded responsible to 2 instances in Manhattan and within the Bronx for a rip-off that included taking charges, safety deposits and first-month rents after displaying residences for which he neither owned nor had rights, Gothamist reported. He’ll spend a minimum of 4 years behind bars.
The boroughs’ district lawyer’s workplaces say he stole round $25,000 from three victims in Manhattan and $80,000 from 18 victims within the Bronx. Most of his victims had been Hispanic and primarily Spanish-speaking.
Valoy admitted to authorities the deposits for residences he’d taken had been his sole supply of earnings, in response to voluntary disclosure types Bronx prosecutors supplied to Gothamist.
“I used to work as a Realtor. Enterprise went unhealthy, and I needed to make some cash. I began displaying residences as a result of I understand how to be a Realtor,” Valoy disclosed. “I’d have folks fill out the appliance and submit them.
“It’s not my fault that the purposes weren’t accepted and I can’t return the cash as a result of I spent it,” he mentioned.
In Manhattan, Valoy pleaded responsible to 1 rely of grand larceny beneath a plea deal that requires him to be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in state jail on Sept. 9, District Legal professional Alvin Bragg mentioned.
Within the Bronx, Valoy pleaded responsible to tried housebreaking and scheme to defraud, and was sentenced to 4 years in state jail adopted by 5 years of supervised launch, an assistant district lawyer within the borough’s workplace mentioned.
“New Yorkers trusted Juan Valoy to lease them residences. He broke that belief by pocketing their cash, leaving them with out houses,” Bragg mentioned in an announcement. “Juan Valoy is going through time in state jail for his dangerous conduct. Manhattan is going through a housing disaster, and we’ll prosecute those that exploit it for their very own benefit.”
Valoy’s rip-off was easy: he’d present determined potential renters renovated residences that he had no proper to lease, then take from $2,500 to $7,000 from every sufferer, promising their cash would assure the unit as a result of there have been many events, in response to prosecutors.
He’d then not return their calls, or refuse to refund their cash, the district attorneys mentioned.
Prosecutors had been presenting their case to a grand jury final 12 months when Valoy stopped displaying up for trial, in response to the Bronx District Legal professional’s workplace. They discovered he’d began working in Manhattan.
Bronx and Manhattan prosecutors discovered him hiding in motels in Yonkers, Bronx officers mentioned. He was arrested and bail was set for $150,000. Valoy was unable to make bail and is now on Rikers Island.
It’s not the primary time Valoy posed as a Realtor to defraud renters. In 2014, he was sentenced to as much as 4 years in state jail for stealing 1000’s of {dollars} in an condo rip-off in Washington Heights.
– Dana Bartholomew
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