Queens Man Accused Of Duping Renters Out Of $25K In Cash Deposits

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — A Jackson Heights man stands accused of grand larceny for swindling people out of $25,000 in a fraudulent apartment rental scheme, prosecutors said.

Ulises Reyes, 39, faces charges of grand larceny and a scheme to defraud others for taking thousands of dollars in cash deposits from hopeful renters in Queens, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The Jackson Heights resident showed homes on 105th St., 50th Ave. and 43th Ave. in Corona to at least 12 prospective renters from 2017 to 2019, according to the charges. Reyes then took cash deposits of $1,850 to $2,300 from the would-be tenants but never allowed them to move into the apartments, prosecutors said.

"The victims in this case did what any other prospective renters would have done — they called an advertised number, met with the defendant and toured an apartment," Chief Assistant District Attorney John M. Ryan said.

Reyes, he added, "was scheming from the moment he allegedly posted a for rent sign with his phone number listed."

A Queens Criminal Court judge set bail at $40,000 and ordered Reyes to return to court on April 16. If convicted, Reyes could spend one to four years in prison.

Prosecutors say that anyone who believes they were victimized by the defendant can call Consumer Fraud Associate Michael Albanesi of the Queens District Attorney’s Office at 718-286-6673.