A Hell's Kitchen rental scam has led to the indictment of a Manhattan man, according to a recent announcement by District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. Nicholas Fuelling, age 43, has been charged for allegedly deceiving multiple individuals and siphoning a total of approximately $20,000 in a fraudulent apartment sublease scheme during August 2025. The accusations against him include five counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, five counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.
In the heart of Manhattan, Fuelling advertised a sublease for a two-bedroom apartment on Facebook Marketplace, "Nicholas Fuelling allegedly stole approximately $20,000 from at least five individuals who thought they would be moving into a Hell’s Kitchen apartment. Instead, we allege, Fuelling’s lies left people scrambling for housing, and even left one victim effectively homeless,” said Bragg, as per a statement obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The scam unfolded swiftly, between August 8 and 16, 2025, when at least five individuals mistakenly entrusted Fuelling with substantial sublease payments, ranging from $3,200 to $6,400.
Prospective tenants were expecting to move in by the end of August for leasing periods up to a year. However, none of the five individuals could take possession of the apartment following their agreements, and attempts to recover their funds from Fuelling met with silence as he ceased all communication with the victims. The prosecution is led by Assistant D.A. Alexander Phillips of the Housing and Tenant Protection Unit, under the supervision of a cadre of other D.A.s well-versed in financial fraud and investigative procedures.
Bragg acknowledged the diligent efforts by the NYPD in bringing this case to light, particularly recognizing Detective Yousef Demes, Police Officer Denise Garcia Torres of the Midtown North Precinct Detective Squad, and Detective Tamarah Pinckney of the Midtown South Detective Squad for their contributions. Attempting to identify other potential victims, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office made a public call, "Scarce housing is a breeding ground for fraud, and we prosecute those who take advantage of the hopes of prospective tenants. We believe there are more victims – please contact our Housing and Tenant Protection Unit.” The Housing and Tenant Protection Unit can be reached at 212-335-3300, or by email at [email protected] for those who believe they may have been affected by this scheme or have information regarding other victims.
