SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Scranton Police have charged a woman for allegedly renting out apartments that she did not own.
Scranton Police say Nicole Palmitessa, 37, was living in an apartment building on the 1300 block of South Webster Avenue in Scranton’s south side. While there, Police say Palmitessa was changing the locks on apartments in the building, creating leases and forging the owner’s signature, and renting them out to people after collecting rent and keeping it for herself, police say.
Scranton police say they spoke with Lidia Davila, the owner of the building, who reported Palmitessa’s actions.
There were at least three individuals Palmitessa moved in without Davila’s knowledge or permission, according to the criminal affidavit.
Scranton Police say they then went to speak with Palmitessa who claimed that she had been working with Davila for three years as her property manager and had been collecting rent and managing the apartments for Davila in that time. She claimed the money she collected was sent to Davila via Cash App and Zelle, but was unable to provide receipts of those transactions, according to court documents.
Police claim that Palmitessa admitted to them that she collected money from these individuals and allowed them to move in.
Palmitessa is being charged with forgery, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and other related charges.
