STAMFORD — Police say a New York man impersonated a Stamford Housing Authority employee and swindled seven people out of $3,000.
Gajesh Sewnarain, 49, of 3723 92nd St. in Jackson Heights, N.Y., was charged Monday with third-degree larceny and seven counts of criminal impersonation.
The Stamford Police Department launched an investigation of Sewnarain in June 2011 after receiving multiple complaints.
According to the police report, Sewnarain posed as an employee of the Stamford Housing Authority and met with people at various locations throughout Stamford including Stamford Town Center, Chamber of Commerce meetings and various hotels in the downtown area.
Police say Sewnarain told victims he had vouchers for Section 8 housing and could expedite the housing process for the victims.
After receiving personal information from his victims, he requested them to pay for application fees, security deposits and other various charges, according to police.
Police say he charged victims for fees that would be considered legitimate for regular housing but not appropriate for Section 8 housing.
Sewnarain allegedly collected a total of $3,000 from his seven victims, police said.
“As our investigation was closing in and we got an arrest warrant signed for Sewnarain, he disappeared,” said Stamford Police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher.
Police tracked Sewnarain to Tampa, Fla. where he worked in a florist shop in 2012.
Police contacted the Florida flower shop and learned the suspect was expected to pick up his W-2 form.
On Feb. 1, Sewnarain was arrested by members of the Tampa Police Department’s fugitive squad, as he went to pick up his paperwork, police said. He was extradited to Connecticut Monday and formally charged.
Sewnarain, a native of Guyana, also has a hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for extradition hearings.
He was held on a $50,000 bond and was arraigned in Stamford Superior Court Tuesday.
