Phony NYC broker showed apartments he didn’t own in $25K scam: prosecutors

A phony New York City real estate broker stole $25,000 from renters – after taking them on tours of properties he had no authority to offer for lease, prosecutors said.

Juan Valoy, 46, used Facebook Marketplace and third-party referrals to wrangle the unsuspecting would-be renters, who only realized they had been scammed when they’d be met with excuses on their planned move-in dates, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.

“Juan Valoy allegedly preyed on New Yorkers who were simply looking for a stable place to live at a time when affordable housing is scarce,” Bragg said in a statement. “The defendant allegedly exploited these circumstances so he could line his own pockets, all while leaving families with children without a home.”

The not-real estate broker had arranged tours of apartments throughout the Big Apple, including Washington Heights, Queens and the Bronx — but he didn’t own nor have permission from the owners to list any of the units, prosecutors said.

The victims — who were mostly Hispanic New Yorkers — paid more than $7,000 often using cashier’s checks payable to Milian Services Corp., a business registered to Valoy, according to the charges against him.

Valoy allegedly pocketed the cash and would then repeatedly delay the move-in dates with a laundry list of excuses, including that units needed repairs or were being treated for pests, prosecutors said.

He eventually ghosted the victims, according to prosecutors.

One victim, a Bronx mom with a young child, even moved out from her old place after believing that Valoy had finalized the move to her new apartment — only to find out that the place was already occupied, officials said.

Valoy solicited personal information from his victims, like financial records, birth certificates, pay stubs and social security numbers, prosecutors allege.

He pleaded not guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges at his arraignment — where Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Ann Scherzer ordered him to be held on $25,000 cash bail.

He’s due back in court on Dec. 11.