CRITICAL THREAT · Identity Theft and Housing Fraud

Federal Charges Filed in D.C. Identity Theft and Housing Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors have charged two Washington, D.C. residents, Maliktra Derenorcourt and Philippe Oliver Gadie, in a multi-year scheme involving identity theft and housing fraud. The defendants allegedly used stolen and fabricated identities to secure leases at various apartment complexes, subsequently living in the units without paying rent or utilities. The scheme reportedly exploited eviction delays to remain in properties, causing significant financial losses to landlords.

10/23/2026Apartment rental application systemsDigital payment platforms (e.g., Cash App)Credit reporting agencies

Warning signs

Unfamiliar charges or debits on bank or credit card statements
Collections calls for debts or rental payments you do not owe
Notifications from companies regarding unauthorized access to your personal accounts
Unexpected notices of eviction or rental arrears in your name for properties you did not lease

What you should do

File a police report with local law enforcement if you suspect your identity has been stolen
Place a fraud alert on your credit reports through major credit bureaus
Contact the fraud departments of any companies where unauthorized accounts were opened or charges were made
Visit IdentityTheft.gov to create a recovery plan and obtain an official FTC Identity Theft Report
Ask landlords or property managers if they report rental payment history to background screening companies to check for fraudulent entries

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, the defendants submitted fraudulent rental applications in batches to obtain housing. The indictment alleges that the pair used stolen personal information to bypass screening processes and utilized digital platforms like Cash App to move illicit funds. The scheme, which began at least as early as November 2023, resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. Both individuals face federal wire-fraud charges, with additional counts of aggravated identity theft filed against Gadie.

Sources

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/foreign-national-among-defendants-charged-seven-count-housing-and-social-security-fraud https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-pair-accused-of-using-stolen-identities-live-rent-free-apartments-maliktra-derenorcourt-philippe-oliver-gadie-social-security-fraud-housing-theft-scheme-jeanine-pirro https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/6ac11bbbce622c1e29ab9c9e https://www.identitytheft.gov/Steps?scroll=true https://hoodline.com/2026/10/dc-pair-accused-of-using-stolen-identities-to-dodge-rent-for-years