Foreign National Among Defendants Charged in Seven-Count Housing and Social Security Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON - A seven count Superseding Indictment was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court charging Maliktra Derenorcourt, 27, and Philippe Oliver Gadie, 34, both residents of the District of Columbia, with a multi-year scheme to allegedly enrich themselves by using fake or stolen identities to fraudulently obtain leaseholds on units at various apartment complexes without paying rent or bills, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

"This case alleges a calculated fraud operation that weaponized stolen identities, exploited the eviction system, and inflicted significant financial harm across the District," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "These defendants, one of whom is a foreign national unlawfully present in the United States, are charged with orchestrating a housing and Social Security fraud scheme that preyed on innocent victims and undermined the integrity of our housing system. We will not tolerate criminals who exploit our communities for profit and put the safety and security of law-abiding residents at risk."

According to the Superseding Indictment, from at least November 2023 to the present, Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others allegedly conspired to obtain a large number of leases for residential units at numerous apartment complexes across Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas.

The conspirators allegedly used stolen or fabricated Social Security Numbers, so called "Credit Privacy Numbers", and fabricated letters of employment in furtherance of their scheme. The conspirators then allegedly lived in the units themselves, or sold access to the units to third parties at a fraction of the value of the lease. Nearly all of the apartments that were fraudulently leased as a part of the scheme resulted in eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent causing significant losses for each of the apartment complexes involved. Currently, losses are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, however, the investigation into the extent and scope of the scheme is ongoing.

In Washington, D.C., the eviction process can span multiple months-even up to a year or longer. Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others allegedly utilized this lengthy process by submitting fraudulent lease applications in batches using the stolen or fabricated identities.

During the conspiracy, Derenorcourt, Gadie, and others also allegedly used BitCoin and Cash App accounts with stolen and fabricated identities to transfer money between themselves. Gadie used at least one victim's name, social security number, and date of birth to open a Cash App account conducting hundreds of transactions in the victim's name. The investigation into these accounts is ongoing.

Derenorcourt assisted with the scheme by posing as the pair's female identity theft victims. Search warrants executed at Derenorcourt's apartment recovered numerous luxury fashion items. Gadie, a citizen of Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa, is unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying his nonimmigrant visa.

This case is being investigated Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit. The investigation was conducted by the Washington, D.C. Fraud Cell, which is a multi-agency task force established pursuant to the President's Executive Order 14252 aimed at Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Again.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Gadie was apprehended while living on a fraudulent lease at an upscale apartment in Southeast Washington, D.C.

Gadie entering one of the apartments.

Derenorcourt and Gadie tapping into one of the fraudulently leased apartments.

Surveillance photo of Gadie.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

26cr142