Complaint Review: Edward Espinal

 I Went to GC Realty on Boston Road in the Bronx to meet with one of Edward Espinal's agents-Israel Diaz. I met him through Craig's list after he posted an ad for a one bedroom apartment in the Pelham Parkway area of the Bronx.

He proceeded to show me an apartment which I did not like. Over the course of 3-4weeks we were in contact in search of an apartment. Eventually I went into the office and officilly met Edward Espinal "Crook" and he sent a caucasion female agent to show me an apartment around the corner from his office.

I fell in love with the apartment so we went back to the realty office to start paperwork. I was told by his agent to bring as much money as I could or atleast one month's rent plus application/credit check fee to hold the apartment and not show anyone else. In total $1500. I did all the paperwork (which included tax returns, copies of last 6 paystubs, social security card and identification card)and gave them $1000 in USPS money order and brought the remaining money 2days later in a Western Union Money Order.

I was told that I will have a reply with in a week but before the week was up I was checking in periodically to check on the status of my application. On the fifth day, Israel-Crook's agent- was not picking up my calls and sent a text stating that he was in the hospital for about a week, reach out to Edward on his cell phone since he had "my money" and to keep harassing him until he picks up.

Due to such a small world, the landlord of the builiding that I was suppose to be "moving" into is the same landlord of a very close relative-whom I am actively staying with. I decided to call the landlord and inquire about my application and he laughed as he called Edward a "clown," stating that he NEVER received any paperwork or money for that matter. He advised that I should try to get my money back.

I found this odd and procedded to file a police report. The following day I decided to go back to the Gladys Collins Realty office on Boston Road and to my surprise there were many clients or victims there complaining about how Edward is a Crook, posting negative fliers about him and cops were outside trying to calm the crowd. Edward and "his team" had already vacated the premises which to much surprise tenants in the resedential building where Edward had his office where happy and ecstatic since all he brought were problems to the tenants, building and neighborhood.

Edward's first response to police is that this is a civil matter and he can not get arrested since he also has a lawyer. Apparently, he has been arrested before for the latter but continues to scam and rip off innocent people. Also, this crook has been practicing as a realtor with no license rather under Gladys Collins license hence the name of the realty.

When I went to the precint to file a report there were about 12 other individuals there with me for the same issue and in the coming days I kept hearing and meeting more and more "victims" with the same cases as myself that gave this scammer less if not more money than I did.

Sadly, there were also immigrants, women with children who live in shelters, pregnant women, and people on governament programs that are subsidized like welfare and section 8, whom he took their money and personal information.

May I add, when Edward Espinal's agents would take their clients to view the apartments they never had keys but rather would press random bells of tenants in the building to get in and when a tenant asked who it was they responded with "UPS!"

Furthermore, a lot of landlords and supers are in collusion (to act together secretly to achieve a fraudulent, illegal or deceitful purpose-conspire) with Edward since they know him very well, his antics and some admitted to and confirmed having a work relationship with him. One landlord even told me that he will talk to Edward on my behalf.  I did not hold my breath!

I recently was informed that this man also has another office in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan and is still scamming and stealing from people.

To this day after filing a police report, giving my statement to Dectectives that were supposedly passing down all the victim's statements to the district attorney formulating a case for all the "victims" as they will call it, and reaching out to social media like tv stations or radio stations in various languages, I have not recovered any of my money or personal sensitive documents like copies of my ss, id, pay stubs or tax returns.

I will continue to fight for justice and wish luck to all involved.