Bridgeport police have arrested a local real estate agent accused of keeping thousands of dollars in fees and deposits for apartments that he never delivered on.
Maurice Earley, 48, owns Earley Real Estate, which is located at 1785 Boston Ave., according to Bridgeport Police.
Investigators said they have identified four victims and police are asking any other victims to come forward.
One victim is a disabled woman who paid Earley $1,600 for a unit, only to find that someone else was living there, according to police.
When the woman went into the unit and used the real estate access code Earley provided, the residents confronted her, police said.
Earley promised a refund, but didn’t provide one, according to police.
Two other victims received refunds after detectives started investigating.
“A lot of these victims were down on their luck and he took advantage of them,” Detective Frank Podpolucha said in a news release from police. “He would take their money for a bogus apartment that he would never deliver.”
Podpolucha said, in several cases, Earley contacted victims and offered a refund if they would drop their criminal complaint.
Earley was charged last week with second-degree larceny and has since posted bond.
Police said Earley has an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/real-estate/earley-real-estate-in-bridgeport-ct-87070636
Police ask any additional victims to call the police department financial crimes unit at 203-395-6359.
