While New Yorkers—and Americans in general—are still dealing with the job crisis, there are those who look to make a quick buck by taking advantage of those wanting to make an honest buck. Last week, two individuals were charged with doing just that.
New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced criminal charges against Elena Shchukina, 22, and Ronald Ulysee, 32, of Brooklyn, accusing them of conning unemployed New Yorkers looking for work by operating a fake employment agency in Manhattan and stealing hundreds of dollars in fees from dozens of victims. Shchukina and Ulysee were both charged with felony fraud and petit larceny charges.
By advertising non-existent jobs to the public and tricking New Yorkers into paying for fraudulent job-placing services, Shchukina and Ulysee both face up to four years in prison. They were both arrested and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court.
According to prosecutors’ statements made at the arraignment, Schneiderman’s investigation found that defendants operated from multiple locations around New York City (including 688 Sixth Ave. in Manhattan). Whenever their scheme was exposed at one location, they closed up shop and re-opened somewhere else. All of these events occurred between December 2011 and October 2012.
Schneiderman spoke of the desperation and disappointment conned New Yorkers felt at the time.
“These imposters conned dozens of victims by offering them hope that they were on their way to securing a steady job. But rather than helping them find employment, the defendants simply stole their money,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “By repeatedly making false representations and demanding fees for non-existent jobs and non-existent services, these individuals scammed the unemployed and those looking for better jobs and eroded confidence in lawful organizations dedicated to helping people secure their futures. My office is committed to bringing the perpetrators of such schemes to justice.”
According to the complaint, Shchukina and Ulysee operated their scheme under various business names like “Job Force One” and “United Care Service.” No matter the name of the business, the defendants promised job applicants immediate opportunities, good wages and benefits for mostly maintenance and cleaning jobs. The job applicants were allegedly required to pay hundreds of dollars in phony application fees and were then sent to fake employers at fake addresses or real employers with no connection or association with the defendants. The defendants promised refunds, but would eventually just relocate.
New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales praised Schneiderman for taking actions.
“We applaud the New York state attorney general’s office for taking on this case on behalf of vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Perales. “The Division of Consumer Protection will continue working closely with the [attorney general’s] office and other law-enforcement agencies to expose these bad actors and help eradicate fraud and abuse in our state.”