A Kings Park man was arrested Monday on grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges for an alleged scam, in which he would rent houses and then not pay rent, Nassau County police said.
Jerry Hauser, 56, is awaiting arraignment Dec. 17 at First District Court on charges of third-degree and fourth-degree grand larceny, as well as a first-degree scheme to defraud count.
Detectives said Hauser was charged Monday in two separate larceny incidents. For the first alleged scheme, he’s accused of pocketing $1,940 by forging a man’s signature on a check and depositing it into his bank account.
Authorities also uncovered “an ongoing scheme to rent houses and not pay any rent,” a police news release said.
In that alleged crooked deal -- which police said began in March 2010 -- Hauser reportedly rented homes in Jericho, Syosset and Kings Point, but never paid rent to the landlords. Instead, he is accused of giving them numerous checks that were returned for insufficient funds. Police estimate the victims lost more than $50,000.
Hauser was arrested Monday at his home. He was held overnight in police custody and due to appear in court Tuesday morning.