MIAMI – A man with the last name Charitable was anything but, police say, after he was accused of renting out a Miami apartment unit that he didn’t own.
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According to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department, a victim replied to a Facebook Marketplace ad in July 2024 that was advertising an apartment unit for rent at the Fortune House Hotel, located at 185 NE 14th Terrace.
Police said the ad was posted by Stefano Charitable, 34, of North Miami Beach.
According to the report, the victim agreed to the lease terms and sent Charitable $2,700.
Police said Charitable told the victim to send the money via Zelle to a “Liliana Romero.”
According to the report, an electronic copy of the lease was sent to the victim, who was told that he could move in on July 18, 2024.
But when the victim arrived at the Fortune House on that date, building management informed him that a Black male had been misleading renters into believing that he owned the unit, authorities said.
The victim told police that he then contacted Charitable who agreed to meet up with him and return the $2,700, but Charitable never showed.
According to the report, the victim identified Charitable to police in a photo lineup on Jan. 31.
He was taken into custody Thursday on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
As of Friday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $20,000 bond.