Suffolk County Police arrested a Brentwood man for scheming to defraud, grand larceny and issuing bad checks in connection to a rental scam.

 

Aleandro Claudio showed an apartment to a prospective renter in January 2019, took a deposit, then later stated the apartment was not available. When the prospective renter requested a refund, Claudio issued a check that was returned for insufficient funds.  Several attempts by the victim to rectify the situation were unsuccessful.

 

Third Precinct Crime Section Officer Michael Scaturro initiated an investigation and discovered four additional rental scams committed by Claudio in January and February 2019. The victims included two young females, a double amputee, a family with a newborn child, and a homeless female.

 

Claudio, 59, was arrested at his home and charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree, Scheme to Defraud 1st Degree, three counts of Issuing a Bad Check, Petit Larceny and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree. He was held overnight at the Third Precinct and was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip.

 

The investigation is continuing. Anyone who has additional information or believes they have been a victim of this rental scam is asked to call Third Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-8332 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

 

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.