East Meadow man pleads guilty of defrauding renters

Jamel Smith, 38, of East Meadow, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3 to grand larceny, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s office, after he was arrested in 2012 for defrauding 10 people out of their deposits by falsely advertising apartments and houses at rents well under the actual asking price.

The Herald previously reported that the homes Smith rented were in Elmont, Hempstead and West Hempstead. Smith, who was a real estate agent at Realty Executives West, falsely advertised rental properties for around $1,400 per month that should have been rented for $2,000, and collected more than $200,000 in rent fees and deposits over the course of six months.

A spokesman for District Attorney Kathleen Rice said prosecutors are recommending a sentence of six months in jail, and full restitution of $19,275. He is due back in court on Dec. 15.