Cops: Old Westbury man defrauded landlord

An Old Westbury resident is facing charges of defrauding his new landlord by writing bogus checks for his rent, security deposit and the sale of the victim's car, Nassau County police said.

Jerry Hauser, 55, of I.U. Willets Road, was arrested Friday morning by Old Westbury detectives and charged with grand larceny, scheme to defraud, falsifying business records, criminal trespass and three counts of issuing a bad check.

Hauser initially contacted the male victim, who was interested in renting the Willets Road apartment, through a real estate agency.

After protracted negotiations with the victim and the agency, Hauser wrote two checks -- one for the security deposit and the other to cover rental payments -- despite knowing his bank accounts had been closed, police said.

In addition, Hauser reportedly defrauded the victim after offering to help sell his car. After obtaining the title from the landlord, Hauser sold the car to a third party but kept the cash for himself, police said. Hauser then wrote another bogus check to the landlord to cover the payment, police said.

Hauser will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.