Cuff Midville Man As Rent Robber
Law enforcement agents cuffed a Middle Village man last Friday, Feb. 28, who allegedly stole thousands of rent payments from a local landlord and duped a prospective tenant in a related scam, it was announced.
He was identified by police as Nedal Molhem, 44, of 72nd Street.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Molhem allegedly swiped more than $27,000 in rent payments between November and December 2013 from the owner of three apartment houses located on 65th Place in Glendale and on Fresh Pond Road and Gates Avenue, respectively, in Ridgewood.
Reportedly, the landlord-who owns a phone card company-also lost in excess of $12,000 in revenue from phone card sales at 34 area retailers. According to the criminal complaint, Molhem allegedly collected these payments, claiming that he worked for the victim.
In another scheme, authorities said, Molhem allegedly swindled a would-be tenant out of $2,800 by offering under false pretenses to rent her an apartment from the 65th Place building.
Law enforcement sources said Molhem met with the victim on Nov. 12, 2013, and claimed that a unit would be available to her on Dec. 15, 2013.
Ten days before the purported availability date, authorities noted, the victim provided Molhem with $2,800, representing the first month’s rent payment and a security deposit. Reportedly, the suspect told her once again she could move into the apartment on Dec. 15.
But on Dec. 14, according to the criminal complaint, Molhem contacted the victim and told her to wait until Dec. 26 to move in, claiming that the tenants in the unit purportedly refused to leave.
Ultimately, authorities said, the apartment was not made available to the victim on Dec. 26. The victim reportedly contacted Molhem repeatedly thereafter, but was unable to reach him.
The thefts were reported to the 104th Precinct. Based on an investigation, Detectives Jae Moon and Steven Lundy of the 104th Precinct Detective Squad charged Molhem with multiple counts of third- and fourth-degree grand larceny.
According to court records, Molhem was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last Saturday, Mar. 1, before Judge Gene Lopez, who ordered him held on $20,000 bail. The suspect is scheduled to return to court on Mar. 25.
