LEWISTON — Local police are seeking a man they believe swindled families out of savings by renting apartments he doesn’t own.
Lt. David St. Pierre said Tuesday a judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Nathaniel D. Poulin, 36, on four counts of theft by deception.
Police have been seeking the whereabouts of Poulin since mid-July when several mothers complained Poulin had taken their money and left them homeless.
Poulin was charged with one felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, as well as three misdemeanors.
Police are urging Poulin to turn himself in to authorities and are urging the public to contact police about Poulin’s possible whereabouts by calling 207-513-3138 or 207-513-3001, ext. 3323.
Poulin may have changed his appearance since the photos released to the public Tuesday were taken, St. Pierre said.
At least two women lost money in the low-level real estate scam. And there are indications that half a dozen others may also have fallen prey to Poulin’s ruse, police said.
Heather Coulombe, a mother of four, lost her life savings in the con.
She told the Sun Journal in an earlier account that she met with the man (believed to be Poulin) on a Sunday at a Main Street address. He had listed the property as a three-bedroom available for $650 a month and was happy to walk her and her children through the space.
“He brought me in and he told me all kinds of stories about how his grandfather had owned the place,” Coulombe said. “He said he just wanted to get a good tenant in there and that everything would be fixed up for us.”
It all seemed so legit. Later, she handed over $1,100 to secure the apartment. Soon after, she went back to the address with her four excited children so they could pick out their bedrooms.
“I showed up,” Coulombe said, “and there was another man standing in the driveway.”
That other man, as it turns out, was the real building owner. The apartment Coulombe had paid more than $1,000 for, the man told her, was not hers to keep.
“I just broke down,” the woman said, “because I realized that I had been scammed.”
This story will be updated.
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