SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. – Two men scammed a woman out of $1,800 after claiming to be real estate brokers who could help her move into a new apartment, South Miami police said.
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But police said the woman was never able to move in because there was no apartment.
Joshua Jeshurun Harrison, 37, of Miami, and Jose Adolfo Lopez, 29, of Chicago, are now facing three felony charges each.
According to an arrest report, the woman first met Harrison, whom she knew as “Joshua Herrera,” at the Empire Lounge off U.S. 1 and casual conversation became a “daily friendship.”
Authorities said in May, the victim complained of an insect infestation at her current apartment and said she planned to move out.
“During a conversation at the lounge, (Harrison) claimed to be a licensed real estate broker with access to multiple properties, including units at a complex referred to as Modera,” the report states. “(He) advised the victim that she would need to terminate her existing lease before proceeding. After doing so, she was shown digital photographs of a Modera apartment and informed that her application was in process.”
Police said Harrison then claimed there were “delays” with the Modera paperwork but offered to house her temporarily at an Airbnb he owned off Southwest 59th Place.
“The victim moved into the unit but began experiencing issues with the electronic door code, which repeatedly locked her out,” the report states.
Police said the woman contacted Airbnb support and a representative told her, “I told Jose that if no payment was made, the door would be deactivated.”
“The victim then contacted Modera apartments directly and was informed that neither (Harrison) nor (Lopez) were affiliated with the complex and that no rental application had been submitted in her name,” the report states.
The woman asked for a refund, police said, but got none of the $1,800 she sent the men back.
Police arrested Harrison and Lopez on Wednesday. They’re facing charges of communications fraud, grand theft and acting as a real estate broker without a license.
Harrison is also facing a communications fraud case out of West Miami, court records show. Local 10 News has requested a copy of the arrest report in that case for additional details.
South Miami police think the two may have targeted more victims. They asked anyone who thinks they were a victim or has information to call 305-663-6301 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
As of Thursday, Harrison was being held on a $5,000 bond while Lopez was set to bond out from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, records show.