NY-Dominican lawmakers pledge help for housing scam victims

New York.- New York State senator Adriano Espaillat, NY City councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and the Dominican Consulate on Monday announced support for the numerous compatriots who fell victims of a real estate scam allegedly by Jennifer Ricardo, who had fled to Dominican Republic and is sought by the NY Police Dept.

The accused charged US$2,700 to each victim who applied for the city-organized lottery on affordable housing .

In a press conference Espaillat and Rodriguez accompanied Dominican vice consul Gregorio Malena, who on behalf of the consulate, pledged support for the victims.

The lawmakers said Ricardo took money from each of the victims on a promise to get them apartments in the building on 552 Academy St., but never did so and fled with the money.

Some of the victims even received false leases and keys for the alleged apartments, but after taking their money, Ricardo stopped communicating with victims and vanished.

"Housing is a very basic need and unfortunately in communities like ours the demand for affordable housing is much greater than the supply," Rodriguez said, quoted by elnuevodiario.com.do.

He added that it was precisely that need that prompted the cheated families to fall into Ricardo’s trap.