Cops: Realtor defrauded renters

East Meadow resident Jamel Smith, 38, was arrested last Saturday and charged with grand larceny after illegally renting homes in Elmont, Hempstead and West Hempstead, police said.

According to Nassau County police, the once successful agent at Realty Executives West — previously ReMax West — falsely advertised rental properties for around $1,400 per month that should have been rented for $2,000, and collected more than $200,000 in rent fees and deposits over the past six months. Before the market slowed, Smith earned a prestigious real estate award from ReMax for his work as an agent.

“[Smith] targeted people who couldn’t basically afford to buy a house,” 3rd Squad Detective Raymond Cote said at a press conference on Monday, “and then would show a rental property, and the deal that [renters] were getting was probably too good to be true, and it was.”

Ten victims of illegal rentals have been identified, but Cote said that Smith’s business records indicate that there are more than 100, and possibly as many as 200. Cote explained that each victim paid Smith an estimated $5,000 — the first and last month’s rent and a one-month security deposit — to secure a rental.

According to Cote, Smith was fired from Realty Executives West after a number of complaints were lodged against him and his real estate license was not renewed, but Smith used a friend’s code to access the listing service. Then he marketed the properties himself on Craigslist and other websites.

“He was very familiar with people and how things worked,” said Cote, adding that Smith would show listings with help from other real estate agents who did not know he was working without a license and were looking for commissions.

The Nassau County Police Department learned about the illegal scheme two weeks ago, when two different renters simultaneously stopped by a property on West Marshall Street in West Hempstead. “We have two people arriving at the same location at the same time, realizing that they both can’t possibly have a right to this home, and they had both given Mr. Smith money,” Cote said.

Smith allegedly used fictitious company names — JR Properties, JR Realtors, Unlimited Rentals — and false rental agreements to illegally secure a profit. “In his mind, what he was doing was illegal,” Cote said, “but his plan, I guess, was to stay ahead of the curve.”

Femi Adebanjo, who works at Realty Executives West and was a professional acquaintance of Smith’s, was irked to hear about the situation. “It’s unfortunate for the industry,” he told the Herald. “It makes it worse for the agents who are out there doing the right thing for people. Some people don’t value their reputation. Some people can’t see the bigger picture, and in this business there’s always a bigger picture.”

Smith was charged on Sunday with multiple counts of grand larceny and scheme to fraud.

The police are urging home buyers and renters to deal only with licensed real estate agents. “This guy had the gift of gab and was able to con people into believing he had a real estate license,” Cote said, “but if you go with a brick-and-mortar real estate agent, you’re probably dealing with someone who is licensed.”

Detectives are asking anyone with information about Smith’s operation to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.

Joe Diglio contributed to this article.