A Gravesend woman accused of defrauding prospective tenants out of thousands of dollars could face up to four years in prison if convicted, the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a press release on Monday.
The defendant, Svetlana Katzevman, 62, has been charged with grand larceny, petit larceny, and first-degree scheme to defraud in a 14-count indictment. Prosecutors allege she collected approximately $15,800 in security deposits and rent from victims between January 2022 and July 2024 by falsely advertising a rental apartment at 1800 Ocean Parkway.
She was arraigned at the Brooklyn Supreme Court and was released without bail. She is due back in court on Jan. 29, 2025.
Katzevman placed rental advertisements in the Russian-language newspaper Russkaya Reklama. She allegedly insisted on cash payments and did not provide leases, claiming to offer discounted rents to help fellow Ukrainian immigrants. Once victims paid her sums ranging from $700 to $2,300, she allegedly changed the apartment’s locks or prevented them from moving in and refused to return their money.
Authorities said all the victims were Russian-speaking and recently arrived from Ukraine. One of them, a 38-year-old man who paid $1,400 deposit and first month's rent in November last year, and a 65-year-old woman who gave Katzevman $2,300 cash deposit in April 2024.
DA Gonzalez said he hoped the arraignment would remind tenants to be vigilant during rental transactions.
“This defendant is accused of exploiting the trust and vulnerability of her neighbors, many of whom are newly arrived immigrants seeking stability in a new country. Her alleged actions not only caused financial harm but also betrayed individuals already navigating immense challenges," said DA Gonzalez. "We are determined to hold her accountable and remind prospective tenants to safeguard themselves by insisting that landlords provide a written lease and avoiding cash payments in rental transactions.”
