A Bronx woman is indicted on grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and additional charges for taking thousands of dollars in deposits for rent-stabilized apartments she did not deliver.
Stephanie Antonio, 27, was arraigned Monday and is due back in court in Feb. 2022. According to the investigation, between May 17, 2019, and September 30, 2019, Antonia told victims she was an employee of a property management company and had a real estate license. Although she was briefly employed by the property management company, it was only to take photos for its Instagram page. The defendant allegedly used that position to gain access to keys for apartments used in the scam. She allegedly took thousands of dollars from victims in deposits for apartments she could not and was unlicensed to deliver.
Antonio intimidated multiple victims by threatening to call the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have them deported if they were to go to police. In one instance, she filed an assault case against one victim that was later dropped when the victim showed proof that she was working at the time.
It is believed Antonio preyed on dozens of other people, and the district attorney’s office is asking anyone who may have been victimized to contact the Civilian Complaint Unit at 718-838-7040.