NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Jean Mainor, reflecting on what she says was several months of suspicious behavior by her building’s former property manager, identified by Manhattan prosecutors as 42-year-old Shatina Howell.
“Well, it was going on for a long time, and I was one of the people that was caught up in that. I was accused of not paying three months of rent,” said Mainor.
Prosecutors say between 2019 and 2022, during the coronavirus pandemic Howell, in her capacity as a property management employee, allegedly stole more than $56,000 from some 60 tenants in several buildings across Harlem.
Seniors, the disabled, and low-income New Yorkers are among many of the victims.
“When we investigated, she had put her name on one of my cashier checks – and had even endorsed it. As a matter of fact, when I was talking to her, because she had taken the rent from me – so I was talking to her, and she said, ‘oh, I'll get back to you. I’m on my way to Greece,” said Mainor.
Howell is accused of allegedly collecting tenant rent payments by hand as a favor, during the pandemic, but then allegedly stole, and deposited those funds into her own bank account.
“She was very aggressive. ‘I’m not gonna stand for this, I'm not gonna stand for that.’ She was talkin’ like she was a gangsta. And it turns out she really was one. She was a teef,” said Ivan, one of Mainor's neighbors.
Tenant complaints led to an investigation, followed by Howell’s firing and ultimately her indictment this week.
Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg says this case was tailor-made for the long-term investigative work of his Office’s Housing and Tenant Protection Unit.
“It is just fundamental to our duty. That really, really sticks out to us. Again, these are allegations. We look forward to going into court to prove them. But that jumps out to me – people who would focus on those who they view as vulnerable.”
Shatina Howell appeared in court during yesterday’s rainstorm. She is now charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud. Neither charge is bail-eligible, so she was released on her recognizance. If convicted, Howell faces up to 15 years behind bars.
Tips and complaints can be sent to the unit’s hotline at 212-335-3300 or this email: [email protected]
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