BY BILL PARRY
A Flushing man pleaded
guilty on Friday, May 28, to
stealing more than $50,000
in an apartment rental scam,
according to Queens District
Attorney Melinda Katz.
More than a dozen apartment
hunters were victimized
by Cesar Fernandez-Loor,
38, who promised housing
to applicants, then collected
rental deposits without actually
permitting anyone to
move in, according to Katz.
Many of the victims were immigrants
living in Jackson
Height and its surrounding
neighborhoods.
Fernandez-Loor pleaded
guilty to grand larceny and
Queens Criminal Court
Judge Karen Gopee ordered
the defendant to pay more
than $50,000 in restitution to
the 18 victims. The judge indicated
that if Fernandez-Loor
failed to pay what was owed
the victims he would face up
to seven years in prison.
According to court records,
the victims called
a phone number listed on
apartment rental advertisements
posted in the Jackson
Heights area and then scheduled
appointments to meet in
person. At those meetings,
Fernandez-Loor presented
himself as a real estate agent
working for ACT Realty Corp.
and distributed business
cards with both his name and
the company’s name. He then
showed the victims the apartments,
and upon approval,
required them to pay a security
deposit. However, none
of the would-be renters were
permitted to move in.
The defendant offered various
excuses or completely
cut off all communications
with the would-be renters,
according to court records.
On occasion, he would
provide refund checks to applicants
— checks that were
subsequently returned for
insufficient funds.
Katz cited a May 2018 Univision
report highlighting
complaints from numerous
victims of the rental scheme,
which mentioned ACT Realty.
As a result of the news segment
and more victims coming
forward an investigation
was launched by the Queens
District Attorney’s Office of
Immigrant Affairs. The investigation
was transferred
to the NYPD’s Grand Larceny
Unit, who had also been investigating
Fernandez-Loor
who was later arrested.
“The victims were looking
for a place to call home,”
Katz said. “Adly, they crossed
paths with a con artist determined
to enrich himself at
their expense. In this case,
I am happy to say, the victims
are getting their money
back.”
Katz urged all victims
of housing rental schemes,
deed or mortgage fraud,
wage theft, unsafe working
conditions and other crimes
involving real estate and labor
to contact the DA’s Housing
and Worker Protection
Bureau at 718-286-6673.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JUNE 11-JUNE 17, 2021 3
Station Road after the cleanup. Photos courtesy of Assemblyman Braunstein’s offi ce
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Last month, a Queens lawmaker
organized a cleanup
effort of Station Road in Flushing
following requests from
the community.
Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein led the multiagency
project along with
the Department of Sanitation
(DSNY) and the 109th Precinct
on Friday, May 14, to cleaned
up the area between 165th and
168th streets. Due to its proximity
to the Broadway LIRR
Station and residential homes,
the area sees regular foot and
vehicular traffic.
“By working together in
ways like this, we can keep
our streets clean and maintain
the quality of life we enjoy and
take pride in here in northeast
Queens,” Braunstein said. “I
want to thank Noreena for
bringing the conditions at Station
Road to my attention as
well as the Department of Sanitation,
Officer Huang and the
109th Precinct for collaborating
with my office to see this
cleanup through.”
After resident Noreena S.
reached out to Braunstein’s
office, the lawmaker began
working with the city agencies
on the joint cleanup operation.
The 109th Precinct provided
“No Parking” signage
and towing support while the
DSNY’s cleaning staff and
street sweeper worked to remove
litter and trash.
“When Assemblyman
Braunstein brought conditions
along Station Road to
our attention, we immediately
began to coordinate with his
office and with NYPD to resolve
this unacceptable situation,”
said Edward Grayson,
commissioner of the New York
City Department of Sanitation.
“I want to thank everyone involved
for their efforts, and
ask the residents of northeast
Queens to continue to work
with us to keep the street safe
and clean.”
Over a decade ago, Station
Road had long been used as a
dumping ground for residents
and nearby businesses. But
community members and organizations
like the Station
Road Civic Association began
volunteering for regular
cleanup efforts around 2007.
During the recent cleanup,
volunteers completely transformed
the corridor for commuters,
residents and business
patrons who frequent the
area.
“I would like to thank the
office of Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein as well as the
DSNY and NYPD for the great
job in cleaning up along Station
Road,” said resident Noreena
S. “So much litter had accumulated
along Station Road
that it became an eyesore and
a public safety hazard to our
community. They worked efficiently
and effectively to remedy
the situation.”
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260-2583.
Photo via Shutterstock
Flushing man pleads
guilty to scamming
Jax. Hgts. immigrant
apartment hunters
DSNY, 109th Precinct join cleanup
effort on Station Road in Flushing
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