Taking Action: Accused NYC rental scammer out of jail; woman says News 12 report saved her from losing $4,000
A News 12 investigation previously uncovered at least a dozen alleged victims in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens who said they lost thousands of dollars trying to secure apartments they never received.
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A man previously accused of taking renters’ money and disappearing without ever handing over apartment keys is now out of jail.
A Queens woman now says a News 12 investigation stopped her from becoming his next alleged victim.
A January News 12 investigation first uncovered at least a dozen alleged victims in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens who said they lost thousands of dollars trying to secure apartments they never received. The renters all identified the same real estate agent: Christian Quiceno.
Court records show Quiceno was released from jail on March 5 after posting bail.
Weeks later, a woman tells News 12 that she nearly gave him a $4,000 deposit for an apartment in Flushing.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, contacted News 12 on social media after seeing the earlier report.
“It was your amazing news report that stopped us in meeting this man,” she wrote in a message to News 12. “Your report saved us from giving any money.”
Another woman from the Bronx, who also asked to remain anonymous, said she was not as fortunate because she was scammed before seeing it.
“I’m grateful for your story,” she said. “I would hate for this to continue to happen to other people.”
She said she found Quiceno on Craigslist while urgently searching for an apartment. She said she met with him, toured multiple units and believed the deal was legitimate.
“He said to make sure that the apartment will be yours, a good-faith deposit of $500. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but he sent me some documents with his name, his signature,” she said.
But as the move-in date got closer, she said the excuses began.
“I kept asking him, 'What about the keys?' … and he said he’s waiting for a walk-through of the apartment and for it to pass inspection,” she said.
When she asked for her money back, she said Quiceno initially agreed to meet — then stopped responding.
“He agreed to a particular time… I called him, texted him, and that was the end of communication between him and I,” she said.
She also said she fears what he may be capable of.
“If he’s capable of scamming people. Who knows what else he’s capable of?” she said.
After seeing the January report, the Queens woman said she contacted the real estate firm Quiceno had claimed to be affiliated with, Keller Williams NYC. She said the company told her Quiceno is not associated with the firm and that good-faith deposits to hold properties are prohibited in New York.
“Now, I know, a living experience, a learning experience I should say, desperate times, but now I know,” said one Bronx scam victim.
Quiceno is facing multiple charges, including grand larceny and fraud. He was arraigned Tuesday in the Bronx and released without bail. He is due back in court on June 23.
Quiceno is also being sued by the Fair Housing Justice Center in a case tied to alleged fraud in Bay Ridge. The group accuses him of cutting off Section 8 renters, which is illegal under New York law.
