Brooklyn Duo Scammed Friends, Acquaintances Out Of $544K, DA Says

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn duo who stole $544,000 from friends and acquaintances they had known for years are facing grand larceny charges, according to prosecutors.

Helen Lurene Elias from Ocean Hill and Gerald Douglas, of Ditmas Park, were both arraigned Thursday for the scheme, which spanned two years until January 2020, prosecutors announced.

The two are accused of borrowing money from friends by telling them Elias was about to receive a multi-million dollar settlement from a lawsuit, but needed to pay off certain liens before the money could be released, according to prosecutors.

Instead, the duo simply stole the money, prosectors said.

“These defendants allegedly defrauded many people by falsely claiming that one of them was about to receive a monetary windfall," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "We will now seek to hold them responsible and make their victims whole. I would strongly urge anyone who is offered a large sum for an alleged short-term loan to be very wary, as it is often a scam and a sure way to lose your hard-earned savings.”

Elias, who also went by Lurene Greenidge and Helen Greenidge, convinced at least 10 people to give her money, promising to return it with substantial interest or even double or triple the investment, prosectors said.

Douglas, a former attorney, met with five of the 10 victims, who he had known for many years, and claimed Elias was his client, prosecutors said. He encouraged the friends to bring money to him or Elias, prosectors said.

The two stole a total of $544,000 after the friends and acquaintances gave them payments ranging from $7,800 to $108,000, according to officials. About $301,000 of the money was secured with the help of Douglas, prosecutors said.

When pressed by their friends where the money was, the two "continued to make excuses about why there were no funds available," prosecutors said.

Elias, 55, was charged with second-and third-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. She was ordered held on $100,00 cash bail and will return to court in July, according to prosecutors.

Douglas, 52, was also charged with second- and third-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud and was released without bail, prosecutors said. He will return to court in July as well.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam is asked to call the District Attorney’s Action Center at 718-250-2340.