Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau today announced the indictment of a 43-year-old Bronx man who defrauded six immigrant families in an apartment rental scheme. The indictment represents the first case to be prosecuted by the Office’s Immigrant Affairs Program.

The defendant, JOHNNY MATEO, has been indicted on charges of Grand Larceny and Scheme to Defraud. The crimes charged in the indictment occurred between January 2007 and April 2007.

The defendant presented himself as an apartment rental agent, working from a desk in the basement of a beauty salon in West Harlem. He took money from six different immigrant families who spoke limited English, but trusted him to help them find affordable apartments in the area. The victims, who are primarily Mexican and Dominican, paid the defendant $1,900 to $4,800 to secure apartments on their behalf. MATEO demanded additional fees from some families for “paperwork” or to secure them apartments despite their “bad credit” or immigration status. In some instances, MATEO took money for the same apartment from more than one family, promising the same move-in time period to both. Once the defendant obtained the money, he gave the victims various false excuses as to why they could not move into the promised apartment. For example, he falsely told one prospective tenant that lead was being removed from the apartment, and another that electrical work was being performed.

MATEO then abandoned his “office” and disappeared, stealing $21,475. MATEO fled to Houston, Texas where following a motor vehicle accident a parole warrant for him was discovered. He was extradited to New York to deal with the warrant and taken into custody by Immigration Customs Enforcement. He was picked up by NYPD in Batavia, New York and brought back to New York City for arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court. MATEO is currently being held without bail.

The victims reported MATEO to the New York City Police Department’s 30th Precinct. The police, in turn, contacted the District Attorney’s Immigrant Affairs Program and together they conducted an investigation leading to today’s indictment.

The defendant is charged with four counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony and Scheme to Defraud, a class E felony. A class D felony is punishable by up to three and one half to seven years in prison and a class E felony is punishable by up to two to four years in prison.

The Immigrant Affairs Program, based in the Special Prosecutions Bureau, was formally created in December 2007 to address the victimization of immigrants. Immigrants seeking residency, citizenship, housing, employment are often preyed upon by criminals who steal from them by employing a variety of fraud schemes. Unscrupulous attorneys, fake attorneys, or other individuals and agencies that offer assistance to immigrants may demand large sums of money for services they have no intention or ability to provide. The program is meant to aid and encourage both documented and undocumented immigrant victims and witnesses, who may fear cooperating with law enforcement because of their immigration status to do so. Regardless of immigration status, a victim or witness of an immigration fraud scam, or other crime can report that offense to the Immigrants Affairs Program.

Any other victims of MATEO’S scheme are encouraged to call the Immigrant Affairs Program at 212-335-3600.

Mr. Morgenthau thanks New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, the 30th Precinct Detective Squad and in particular, Detective Kassim Williams. Mr. Morgenthau also thanks the United States Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant District Attorney Daysi M. Mejia, who is Attorney-in-Charge of the Office’s Immigrant Affairs Program, handled the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Thomas Wornom, Chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau.

Defendant Information

JOHNNY MATEO, 10/26/1964
1207 Nelson Avenue
Bronx, New York

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