WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A White Sulphur Springs resident is under investigation for an alleged rental scam that defrauded tenants out of thousands of dollars.
Deputy Chief J.D. Williamson of the White Sulphur Springs Police Department received a complaint from Carter Wallace, the owner of a rental property at 166 Dickson Street. Wallace reported that his tenant, Giri Surendra, had illegally sub-leased the property to other workers from the Greenbrier Hotel, violating the terms of his lease.
According to Wallace, Surendra falsely claimed to be the property manager and instructed the sub-tenants to pay rent directly to him, promising to forward the payments to Wallace. However, Wallace stated that Surendra failed to pass along the funds, accumulating $2,100 in unpaid rent.
When Deputy Chief Williamson visited the residence, he spoke with two of the sub-tenants, Jamil Hussain and Kathmandu Paudel Sudeep. Both confirmed that Surendra had represented himself as the property manager and that they had been paying him rent and utilities.
Authorities noted that Surendra is in the U.S. on a work visa, which is set to expire imminently, and he is planning to leave the country. He is in jail on a 5,000 dollar bond.
