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Woman Accused Of Using Fake ID To Rent $6K Apartment In SoHo
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 2, 2017
Modified Aug 2, 2017
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Aug 2, 2017
Modified Aug 2, 2017
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A 43-year-old Connecticut woman used a stolen identity to obtain a $6,000/month one-bedroom apartment in SoHo, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
According to a criminal complaint from the DA's office, in June, one Janet Lee of Greenwich reached out to a real estate broker with Bond New York Realty Company to inquire about an apartment at 480 West Broadway; but when she contacted the realtor, she used someone else's name, and set up an appointment under that alias to view the apartment.
On June 21, Lee allegedly filled out an rental application for the $6,050-per-month apartment using a false name, TD Bank account number, date of birth, social security number, tax return, wage statements, and other identifying and financial information. She also gave the realtor a Florida state driver's license with her photo but with someone else's name, according to the complaint, and later allegedly signed the lease agreement using the fake name.
An investigator with the NYPD, Detective Michael McFadden, told prosecutors he knew the driver's license was forged "based on my training and experience, because the overall quality is inferior to that of a genuine driver's license, and because where it should say 'The Sunshine State' it actually says 'The Sunsfuine State.'"
According to the complaint, Lee's 19-year-old stepdaughter, Summer Evans, is also embroiled in the scam—Evans was allegedly listed as Lee's emergency contact, and the real estate company received money orders in Evans' name. McFadden told prosecutors he also found a forged driver's license and TD Bank card in Evans' possession, and that Evans admitted both cards were fake.
Lee has been charged with identity theft, forgery, and criminal possession of a forged instrument. "New York is one of the most competitive real estate markets in the world,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement. "Unfortunately, hot properties can attract scammers seeking to take advantage of any openings, which is why brokers, buyers, and renters alike should remain wary of potential fraud."
Lee's attorney did not immediately respond to request for comment, but we will update when we hear back.
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