INDIANAPOLIS — A New Jersey man has been charged with corrupt business influence, as well as various counts of theft, after his decision to transfer money allocated for utility bills to himself caused the tenants of multiple apartment complexes to lose access to utilities in 2022.
According to court documents, filed last month in Marion County, 47-year-old Chaim Puretz, also identified as Chaikel Puretz in the documents, was charged with:
- One count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony
- Three counts of theft, a Level 5 felony
- Seven counts of theft, a Level 6 felony
- Two misdemeanor counts of theft.
Officials with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said Puretz reportedly misappropriated funds at four Indianapolis area apartment complexes that should have been paid to the Citizens Energy Group and instead transferred it into personal bank accounts. Puretz was the signatory for the four complexes, which included:
- Berkley Commons, located at 8201 Madison Ave.
- Capital Place Apartments, located at 4100 Continental Ct.
- Covington Square Apartments, located at 115 S High School Rd.
- Woods at Oak Crossing, located at 3120 Nobscot Dr.
During an initial investigation, the documents said that two complexes failed to pay their respective energy bills to Citizens Energy Group, causing the group to shut off the water to the tenants of those complexes in April 2022. The city of Indianapolis then paid the unpaid balance and restored those services.
The investigation uncovered that four complexes owed more than $1.9 million for unpaid utility services. Those utility services were reportedly included in the tenants’ rent at the respective complexes. The tenants would pay the complex a monthly utility fee and the complex would then pay the Citizens Energy utility bill.
After failing to pay, multiple civil complaints were filed against the owners of the complexes, ending in the sale of the complexes.
Through the course of the investigation, officials found that one consistent name, a person later identified as Puretz, was evident in the bank account information for all four complexes involved.
Officials later learned that Puretz “funneled large amounts of money to other bank accounts” that were supposed to go toward paying the utility bills. Ultimately, Puretz wired or transferred $1,638,038.86 to himself from the four complexes.
“Innocent Hoosiers suffered due to the alleged acts of the defendant,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in the release. “We will not tolerate those who financially exploit members of our community. I commend our dedicated investigators for their diligent work throughout this lengthy process.”
In a statement from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, he thanked the office for the charges being brought to Puretz.
“Families that had kept current with rent payments that included utilities had their lives thrown into upheaval through no fault of their own,” Hogsett said. “I am grateful to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for the extensive legal work involved to bring today’s criminal charges. Let this serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten the homes of our most vulnerable neighbors: Your day in court is coming.”
