A fraudulent real estate broker operating in New York City swindled $25,000 from renters by presenting them with properties he was unauthorized to lease, authorities reported.
Juan Valoy, 46, utilized platforms like Facebook Marketplace and referrals to deceive unsuspecting renters, who were only made aware of the scam when their planned move-in dates passed with no follow-through, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
“Juan Valoy is accused of taking advantage of New Yorkers searching for a stable home in a time of limited affordable housing,” Bragg stated. “The defendant allegedly exploited these desperate circumstances for his personal gain, leaving families, including those with children, without proper housing.”
Operating in various neighborhoods, including Washington Heights, Queens, and the Bronx, Valoy conducted tours of apartments he neither owned nor had authority to list, as stated by prosecutors.
Most of the victims, primarily Hispanic residents of New York, ended up paying upwards of $7,000 often via cashier’s checks made out to Milian Services Corp., a company registered to Valoy, according to the allegations.
Valoy allegedly kept the money and repeatedly postponed move-in dates, offering numerous excuses, such as necessary repairs and pest control issues, prosecutors reported.
Eventually, he ceased all communication, according to prosecutors.
One case involved a mother from the Bronx who, after being led to believe that Valoy had secured her new apartment, vacated her previous residence—only to discover that the place was already occupied, officials noted.
Valoy reportedly collected sensitive personal information from victims, including financial documents, birth certificates, pay stubs, and social security numbers, as per the prosecution’s claims.
He entered a plea of not guilty to charges of grand larceny and scheming to defraud at his arraignment, where Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Ann Scherzer set bail at $25,000.
Valoy is scheduled to appear in court again on December 11.
