Queens Man Accused of Using Money from Failed Property Sale for Refurbishments

A 42-year-old Jamaica man has been accused of accepting $10,000 from a woman who wanted to purchase a Bellerose home owned by the defendant and then using the money to make repairs to the home after the deal fell through, the Queens district attorney said.

Ramdhan Soogrim, of 87-65 148^th St. in Jamaica, was arraigned last week in Queens Criminal Court on grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property charges, Queens DA Richard Brown said.

If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison, the DA said.

“The defendant’s alleged fraudulent actions are particularly egregious as the victim in this case had no idea that her hard earned savings would be stolen from her and that her American Dream of owning a home had to be put on hold,” Brown said.

Between June 3, 2010 and Feb. 24, Soogrim is alleged to have requested and received $10,000 from Jankie Ramnarace as a down payment for the purchase of a home at 241-34 87^th St. in Bellerose, the DA said. The defendant formerly lived at the northeast Queens property.

Ramnarace is alleged to have made several requests to Soogrim to be paid back for her down payment after their deal fell through, the DA said. But the defendant allegedly refused to give her a refund, he said.

Soogrim is accused of using Ramnarace’s money to make repairs on the Bellerose home, Brown said.