Omaha Woman Purporting To Be Property Manager Bagged On Theft By Deception Charge For Allegedly Ripping Off Prospective Tenant For Over $6K On Deal Victim Thought Was Rent-To-Own Arrangement; Suspect's Defense Attorney: It's Not A Crime, Merely A Civil Matter

In Omaha, Nebraska, WOWT-TV Channel 6 reports:

• An arrest warrant has been issued for a woman who set up her own organization to help low-income people rent or buy a home.
  
  Victims of theft by deception, the Rodriguez family may have to move from South 17th and U streets. "Very sad, very sad, because we are looking for a house because we have a special needs child," says Zenaida Rodriguez.
  
  Rodriguez paid more than $6,000 to 32-year-old Juanita Pinon, who claimed to be an agent for the homeowner who owns numerous rental properties. Rodriguez believed that money was going to the homeowner on a rent-to-own basis.
  
  According to a police report, she alleges the money went into Pinon's own bank account. Pinon founded Las Unikas to help low-income families get a home. But an associate of the man who owned the houses claims that money for mortgages didn't always go to the bank and she suspects Pinon.
  
  "She was pretending to be a property manager for all these properties and pocketing the money," says Joselyn Hatcher, an associate of the homeowner. "Money that didn't go to pay mortgages. So now Tony, the owner of the houses, lost most to the banks. Out of 27 he's down to five and trying not to lose the rest of them."
  
  Six On Your Side has a copy of the arrest warrant for Juanita Pinon, citing two counts of theft by deception each over $5,000. In a separate police report, this young woman alleges Pinon took her in, then took her identity after she had to fill out an application.

For the story, see Woman accused of pocketing money instead of helping poor find housing.

For the follow-up story, see Bond set for theft by deception defendant:

• Pinon’s attorney Chris Roth said it’s a contract dispute and not a criminal matter. Roth said Pinon’s actions didn’t cause cash flow issues for the landlord that put any of his properties into foreclosure.