Svetlana Katzevman, a 62-year-old woman from Gravesend, has been accused of defrauding prospective tenants out of thousands of dollars in a rental scam involving a non-existent apartment in Brooklyn. According to the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Katzevman faces multiple charges, including grand larceny, petit larceny, and first-degree scheme to defraud, in a 14-count indictment. If convicted, she could face up to four years in prison.
Between January 2022 and July 2024, Katzevman allegedly collected approximately $15,800 in security deposits and rent payments from victims. She advertised a rental apartment at 1800 Ocean Parkway, targeting Russian-speaking immigrants, particularly those recently arrived from Ukraine. The defendant is accused of placing rental ads in the Russian-language newspaper Russkaya Reklama and insisting on cash payments for rent and deposits. She also failed to provide leases to the victims and made false claims of offering discounted rents to help fellow Ukrainians.
After the victims paid sums ranging from $700 to $2,300, Katzevman reportedly changed the locks on the apartment or otherwise blocked them from moving in, refusing to return their payments. One victim, a 38-year-old man, paid $1,400 in November 2023, while a 65-year-old woman handed over $2,300 in April 2024.
During her arraignment at the Brooklyn Supreme Court, Katzevman was released without bail and is due back in court on January 29, 2025.
District Attorney Gonzalez emphasized the importance of vigilance in rental transactions, especially among immigrant communities vulnerable to exploitation. “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,” he said. “We are determined to hold her accountable and remind prospective tenants to safeguard themselves by insisting on written leases and avoiding cash payments.”