Adam Chatwin, 36, has been charged with running a rental scam that resulted in over $32,000 being taken from apartment seekers. According to a report from the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Manhattan D.A. Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the indictment, which includes three counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Chatwin is alleged to have posed as the landlord of a luxury studio at 350 West 42nd Street, advertising the unit on platforms such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, despite having only temporary access to the apartment. The indictment states that Chatwin created various fabricated fees to obtain money from his victims.
Prospective tenants were shown the apartment, signed fraudulent leases, and provided substantial payments for the first month’s rent and security deposits. In some instances, Chatwin negotiated payment for an entire lease term upfront, offering a discount for a lump-sum cash payment. After the payments were made, tenants found that they were unable to access the unit, and Chatwin became unreachable, effectively disappearing with the funds. According to an official statement from District Attorney Bragg, “Those who take advantage of the competitive housing market to steal hard-earned money from prospective renters will be prosecuted.”
The Housing & Tenant Protection Unit, established by the Manhattan D.A.'s Office in October 2022, is leading the investigation in this case. This specialized unit is dedicated to addressing systemic issues such as harassment of rent-regulated tenants, deed fraud, and misuse of government subsidies by landlords and developers. Individuals affected by housing and tenant-related scams are encouraged to contact this unit for support.
Recent actions by the unit demonstrate its ongoing activity. A landlord was indicted on allegations of tenant harassment in Chelsea, while another individual was charged in connection with a similar apartment rental scam. Additionally, a coordinated scheme involving several individuals and businesses was uncovered for committing deed fraud to obtain a Harlem brownstone. The prosecution of Chatwin is being conducted by Assistant D.A. Minji Kim, under the supervision of members from the Financial Frauds and Housing and Tenant Protection units. Detective John Lamneck of the NYPD was also noted by D.A. Bragg for his involvement in the investigation.
