Housing scam steals $4K from group of Pueblo families

A lucrative housing scam is targeting renters looking for an affordable home in east Pueblo.

Within two months, five families have come forward reporting fraud and theft.

Investigators confirm a man named Michael Valdez is believed to be behind the crime.

Police say Valdez has made fake rental listings on Craigslist and Facebook for a home on E. 13th St.

“People would come forward and put a deposit down to rent the place, but he would never come through,” said Cpt. Kenny Rider, with the Pueblo Police Department.

Karen Engman first noticed the rental ad on Facebook going for $500 per month.

“We have a single family income that was well within our budget,” Engman said.

Engman forked over the money, and signed a lease.

“We were able to move some of our stuff in, but never allowed to fully move in,” she said. “A few days later my belongings were gone.”

Engman went to confront Valdez requesting a copy of the lease, but he pulled a gun on her.

“It was so frightening,” she said.

A similar situation happened to Marta Valdez.

“I paid him $500 but then he tried locking me out,” she said. “He said he was going to light me on fire, burn me out of the house, or kill me.”

Valdez is currently in custody after threatening police with a gun last week. He’s currently facing felony theft and menacing charges.

Pueblo police urge other victims to come forward. If this has happened to you, call Pueblo PD.