A Lynn woman is facing multiple fraud-related charges after allegedly using a stolen identity to lease a Revere apartment, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced Monday.
Cecilia Gutierrez, 28, was charged on March 27 in Chelsea District Court with identity fraud, forgery of a document, and obtaining goods by false pretense. She was released on personal recognizance by Judge Jane Prince and is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing.
According to prosecutors, Revere Police were contacted on November 6, 2024, by a property owner who reported being the victim of identity fraud. The investigation revealed that Gutierrez had inquired about an apartment on June 16, 2024, and visited the property two days later. She submitted a rental application using a false identity, complete with fake identification and pay stubs.
The leasing agreement was approved, and Gutierrez moved in. She later sub-leased the apartment to another individual, and the two lived there as roommates.
Concerns surfaced on August 15 when a $2,500 rent check under the false name bounced. On August 30, the leasing company contacted the individual whose identity had been used, who confirmed they had no knowledge of the transaction.
The scam resulted in roughly $5,000 in losses, including unpaid rent and the cost to prepare the unit for re-rental, Hayden said.
In response to increasing fraud cases, Hayden recently launched the Suffolk County Fraud Fighters, a multi-agency initiative to help residents—especially seniors—identify and avoid financial scams.
“While we commonly see fraud attempts aimed at individuals, we’re also very aware of schemes using false identification to exploit businesses,” Hayden said.
