Results tagged “apartmentscam”

The wife of Monkees' drummer Micky Dolenz was arrested yesterday after collecting over $130,000 from the city in housing subsidies, long after she failed to qualify for the handout after marrying the actor/musician in 2002. 54-year-old Donna Quinter was charged with grand larceny, which could have landed her in jail for 15 years. Quinter has been collecting $2,800 a month from the Department of Housing for her apartment at Ruppert Yorkville Towers on the Upper East Side, despite the fact that she had a roommate paying rent and was living in California with Dolenz, who still earns plenty off Monkees' residues and as the voice of the Snuggle Bear. The Post says that despite the fact that the former flight attendant "makes a monkee out of the city," Quinter was able to plead guilty at the Manhattan's DA office and repay the entire amount without having to serve any jail time. Her lawyer said, “Donna has cooperated throughout this process and surrendered to further facilitate resolution of this matter.”

A new variation on the apartment rent in cash scam: The NY Post reports a woman was swindled out of $100,000 (meant for two apartments at 410 West 53rd Street) by the broker she met on Craigslist who "legitimately rented her a different Manhattan home two weeks before." Ah, the ol' reel them in and then scam them. The client says broker Leif Lopez showed her the apartments, which she planned to sublet to tourists. She signed contracts and paid in cash--because he said "he would give me a huge deal on the apartments"--but then Lopez never gave her the keys. Lopez, charged with grand larceny, is currently being held on $7,500 bail. The victim says, "I've been depressed since this happened to me. I lost all the money I had."