Man Faces Additional Charges In Connection To Rental Scam: PD

BRENTWOOD, NY - A Brentwood man faces additional charges in connection to rental scams after more victims were identified, Suffolk Police announced on Wednesday.

In June, 59-year-old Aleandro Claudio was originally arrested for scamming several people including two young women, a double amputee, a family with a newborn child, and a homeless woman, police said.

In January, he showed an apartment to a prospective renter, took a deposit, then later claimed the apartment was not available, police said.

When the prospective renter requested a refund, Claudio allegedly issued a check that was returned for insufficient funds, police said. The renter then allegedly tried to fix the situation but was unsuccessful.

Officers initiated an investigation and discovered four additional rental scams committed by Claudio in January and February 2019, police said.

Following his arrest, the Third Precinct Crime Section received multiple phone calls in response and found seven additional victims, police said.

As a result, Claudio was arrested at his home on Blacker Street at 10:04 p.m. and charged with three counts of fourth degree grand larceny, four counts of petty larceny, scheme to defraud and issuing a bad check.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.