Man Steals $150K From 2 Women In Real Estate Fraud: NCPD

BETHPAGE, NY — A man was arrested Tuesday in Bethpage after he acted as a real estate agent and solicited over $150,000 from two women, the Nassau County Police Department said.

On Aug. 24, 2015, two Freeport women filed a mortgage fraud complaint against Rickie Roberts, 58, of North Valley Stream, who they say while acting as a real estate agent, showed them multiple properties over the course of three years, police said. The women, ages 63 and 26, said Roberts told them they had to make payments to cover banking fees and down payments to show good faith, police said. The women provided Roberts with multiple checks worth over $150,000, police said.

Roberts surrendered himself following an investigation by the Nassau County Police Department Fraud and Forgery Unit in conjunction with the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Roberts was charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree grand larceny. He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court, Hempstead.

Detectives request anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a similar crime to contact their local precinct or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.