HARLEM — A security guard at a housing complex masqueraded as an events booker and swindled several people looking to rent space for events out of thousands of dollars, according to a criminal complaint.
Mohamed Yahaya, 38, worked security for Taino Towers at 240 E. 123rd Street in East Harlem, according to the complaint.
From January to June of this year, he created fake contracts totaling more than $11,000 with people looking to book the building’s ballroom for events, according to the complaint and police.
In one case, in May, he told a woman he would reserve a space for her at the ballroom if she paid him $4,500, which she did, according to the complaint.
In February, a 55-year-old woman was referred by a family member to book space at the ballroom for a wedding. She met with Yahaya, who told her to pay two deposits of $2,500, according to police.
When the victim tried contacting Yahaya to follow up on the booking she had paid for, he told her, “I don’t have time to meet,” according to police.
When the woman went to the building to follow up in August, the manager told her he did not work there anymore, according to police.
A representative for the building did not respond to a request for comment.
Prosecutors said Yahaya worked security for the building until June, but was not authorized to make reservation agreements.
Yahaya was charged with four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and one count of third-degree grand larceny.
Lawyers for Yahaya could not be reached for comment.
