A Bronx real estate agent accused of vanishing with tenants' deposits is back on the street, and renters across three boroughs are bracing for what comes next.
Christian Quiceno, the agent at the center of the alleged deposit scheme, was released from jail on March 5 after posting bail and is scheduled to return to Bronx Criminal Court on June 23, 2026. Tenants in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens say they lost thousands of dollars to the supposed apartment deals that never materialized. One Queens woman told News 12 she pulled back a $4,000 deposit just in time after seeing earlier coverage of the case.
In a rental market where listings can disappear in hours, the accusations have refueled long-standing fears about impostor brokers who pressure desperate would-be tenants into handing over cash on the spot.
Court records show Quiceno faces criminal counts that include grand larceny and fraud, according to News 12. The outlet reports he was arraigned in the Bronx and is due back in court on June 23, 2026. Its earlier investigation first identified at least a dozen alleged victims across the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens who say they paid deposits or fees for apartments they never received.
Fair Housing Suit Ties Case To ‘Ghosting’ Allegations
The Fair Housing Justice Center has filed a civil lawsuit naming Quiceno and accusing agents of "ghosting" voucher holders and steering other applicants to the same units, according to the Fair Housing Justice Center. The organization says its May 2022 complaint documents tests showing repeated non-response to Section 8 applicants. The full complaint is available in court filings; see ECBAWM (PDF).
Those fair housing allegations track with what frustrated would-be tenants say they experienced on the ground.
Renters Describe Pressure, ‘Good-Faith’ Cash And Vanishing Agents
Victims told News 12 they were asked for "good-faith" deposits to hold apartments, only to be left without keys, leases or refunds when the purported agent stopped responding.
One Bronx renter says he paid $500 and never even saw the unit in person. Another Queens woman messaged the station that its coverage "saved us from giving any money" on a Flushing apartment. The pattern they describe mirrors what is laid out in the Fair Housing Justice Center complaint and in earlier reporting on similar rental schemes: high-pressure pitches, quick cash transfers and then silence.
How Renters Can Protect Themselves
City officials urge renters not to let a hot listing rush them into risky payments. The city advises people to never hand over money before seeing a unit or signing a lease, to avoid untraceable payments such as wire transfers, and to verify landlords or agents through official records, per housing guidance from NYC.
If you believe you were defrauded, local prosecutors want to hear about it. The Bronx District Attorney’s Civilian Complaint Unit can be reached at 718-590-2300 and through the Bronx District Attorney's Office, and Queens residents can call the Queens DA's Consumer Fraud helpline at 718-286-6673 via the Queens DA's Office for assistance.
Legal Fallout And What’s Next
For now, Quiceno's criminal case and the civil litigation from the Fair Housing Justice Center are moving forward on parallel tracks. Criminal charges are pending while the civil suit continues, leaving open the possibility that victims could seek both criminal restitution and civil damages as the courts sort through the filings.
Court records and filings outline the claims against Quiceno and will determine whether prosecutors pursue additional counts or whether civil remedies produce restitution for renters. The case history is available in legal records; see the court docket for more details at Justia.
