Three arrested in $65K East Point apartment rent fraud scheme
3 arrested in $65K East Point apartment rent fraud scheme
Three women face multiple charges after allegedly stealing around $65,000 in rent payments from residents at the Fulton Pointe Apartments in East Point.
EAST POINT, Ga. - Three women face multiple charges after allegedly stealing around $65,000 in rent payments from residents at the Fulton Pointe Apartments in East Point.
Fulton Pointe rent fraud scheme
What we know:
East Point Police said its investigation began in August after a former tenant at Fulton Pointe Apartments on Washington Road reported that their rent money orders were altered and used for non-rental expenses.
Detectives tracing financial and property records uncovered more than 120 missing or altered money orders. Investigators allege the money orders were altered, deposited into personal bank accounts, or used directly for personal purchases, including wedding-related services.
On Monday, arrest warrants were issued for Christia Smith, Destiny Dorsey, and Cynthia Dorsey on charges including computer forgery, fourth-degree forgery, identity theft, money laundering, theft by taking, and conspiracy.
Members of the East Point Police Department and Fugitive Unit, alongside Stockbridge police, arrested Smith and Destiny Dorsey at separate Stockbridge homes on Tuesday. Cynthia Dorsey was taken into custody on Thursday. All three suspects were booked into the Fulton County Jail.
Police detail scheme
What they're saying:
The investigation began after a former resident at Fulton Pointe Apartments reported that her rent payments were never credited to her account, according to East Point Police Department Sgt. Jamel Shareef.
"We had a former tenant of Fulton Pointe Apartments who made a complaint of her money orders being diverted or changed," Shareef said. "She thought her rent was being paid, but she found out that wasn’t happening."
Police said two sisters employed at the complex instructed residents to pay in person using physical payment methods instead of using the online portal.
"A family of two sisters that work there; they work there, they told them to come in, instead of doing it online," Shareef said. "They told them to come in and make the payments check or money order."
Investigators said the altered payment methods resulted in severe financial consequences for dozens of residents, including wrongful evictions.
"There were some victims evicted, and their lives were changed over this," Shareef said. "There are over 60 victims of this crime, over 120 checks or money orders changed or diverted. We take this very seriously."
Detectives noted the emotional toll on the community, adding that the investigation has expanded to two additional apartment properties where the suspects previously worked.
"They were very upset as we were," Shareef said. "We take every crime very seriously, but something of this magnitude, and you have so many victims."
Shareef emphasized that investigators will not stop working on the case until the victims receive justice.
"If you do crime in the city of East Point, we will bring you to justice. That’s a fact," Shareef said.
Unconfirmed loss totals
What we don't know:
Police have not yet confirmed the final dollar amount or total number of victims as forensic audits continue at Fulton Pointe and two other properties.
Authorities have not specified the exact job titles or employment relationship the three women had with the property management company.
Initial court appearance dates and bond details for the three defendants have not yet been released.
What's next:
Police stated they are working with financial institutions and property management companies to identify additional victims and determine the full amount of financial loss.
East Point police urge anyone who suspects their rent payments at Fulton Pointe Apartments were not properly credited to contact the department at 404-551-5395.
The Source: Information in this report was provided directly in an official press release from the East Point Police Department.