A family for whom renting luxury homes without paying has seemed like a way of life for many years perpetuates their scheme with impunity, much to the chagrin of many cheated owners.
Since March alone, the Tsoukalas family has been kicked out at least four times from rented residences in Montreal and Laval due to significant late payments and false representations.
Aristidis Tsoukalas, 36, seems to be the conductor behind this subterfuge.
The Journal had also unveiled its maneuvers in 2019, when he alone had accumulated $ 65,000 in debt in unpaid rent for opulent residences. Even if only his name appeared on the leases and in the decisions of the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL), already at the time, members of his family seemed to be involved in the coup. Deceived owners had told us in particular that the grandmother had come in a wheelchair during visits, possibly to attract sympathy, while The newspaper had seen him a short time later walking without difficulty.
However, since the media coverage of his story and the publication of his identity, it seems to have become more difficult for Aristidis Tsoukalas to use his own name to perpetuate his scheme. [voir autre texte]
So, since then, her father, her aunt and her grandmother have signed leases for houses in which the whole family moves. This ruse seems to have become a real way of life for this family, against whom judgments have been piling up at the TAL since 2010.
In the hope of stretching the deadlines as much as possible, Aristidis Tsoukalas multiplies bogus excuses and lies to justify his numerous late payments [voir plus bas].
False documents
This year alone, there have been many evictions for the Tsoukalas. In March, they had to leave a luxurious residence they occupied along the Rivière des Prairies, in the Sainte-Dorothée district, in Laval.
“They gave us a doctored Equifax report for the father. We later found the article about them, ”said the real estate agent, who preferred to keep his name silent.
In May, an aunt and the grandmother of Aristidis Tsoukalas this time put their name on a lease for the rental of a residence in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, in Montreal, whose rent was close to $5,000 per month. As always seems to be the case, the whole family seemed to occupy the premises. The owner, who lives outside, received information from neighbors.
“After having received several false checks, the bank informed me that they were fraudsters”, says the one who prefers that his name not be publicly associated with this story.
While he was trying to obtain an order from the TAL to evict them, the Tsoukalas family decided to leave the premises on the sly.
“They left with all the furniture and appliances,” claims the owner. I estimate the value at around $30,000. When the neighbors notified me it was live, so I notified the police and they said there was nothing they could do. To this day, I have no idea where my things are. »
Reached by phone, Tsoukalas admits to having made “errors in this rental”, but swears not to have stolen the furniture.
Tailed
In August, they rented a new residence in Laval, that of an engaged couple.
“We bought this house to move into after our wedding next year,” explains Abhiraamy Sriranganathan, the co-owner. In the meantime, we wanted to rent it, but we had the misfortune to come across him. »
This time, Aristidis Tsoukalas would have used a false identity; that of a former Crown prosecutor. After showing very convincing proof of identity, an Equifax report showing excellent credit and a salary certificate, a lease was signed. Faced with a major delay in payment, the real estate agent hired by the engaged couple began to research the landlord and found the real person whose identity was usurped. Ironically, the man had already filed a complaint with the Montreal police for identity theft shortly before.
After many steps and a lot of difficulty, the couple succeeded in evicting the Tsoukalas from their house.
The day they were driven out, they headed for another house in Laval, where they had signed a lease a few days earlier, still under a false identity. However, the young couple’s real estate agent followed them and alerted the owners. Faced with pressure, the Tsoukalas agreed to terminate the lease and leave without making waves.
All agents and owners interviewed by the Log It’s hard to understand how this family can continue this “way of life” without ever getting caught, even though several complaints have been filed with the authorities. Joined by The newspaperthe police services of Laval and Montreal were satisfied to say that the files are the subject of investigations.
HIS EXCUSES FOR NOT PAYING
- His wife cheated on him and he has to move in as soon as possible because of the tense climate.
- His grandmother died, he is in all his states.
- Is meeting with lawyers to finalize her divorce and the network is not working well in their offices.
- Is on a plane, the bank transfer does not pass.
- Is in Ontario for work and does not have access to his accounts.
- Couldn’t call back due to more difficult weather.
- Blames his accountant by calling her ” bitch to justify his late payments.
- Refers agents to an accountant with whom he has never done business.
MARCH
- Luxurious $1.3 million waterfront residence in Sainte-Dorothée district, Laval
- Expelled in March 2022
- $16,000 in unpaid rent
SEPTEMBER
- $1.2 million house in the Dollard-des-Ormeaux borough, Montreal
- Expelled in September 2022
- Nearly $15,000 in unpaid rent
OCTOBER
- Freshly renovated house of nearly $650,000 in the Sainte-Dorothée district, Laval
- Evicted in October for unpaid rent and false representation
OCTOBER
- $1.1 million house in Laval-sur-le-Lac, Laval
- Lease termination under pressure in October after agent discovered he had provided false identity and false documents.
“My name is terrible, it is destroyed”
The grump even admits to providing false identities on the dark web
Courtesy pictures
By his own admission, Tsoukalas obtains fake maps on the dark web in order to rent houses, since his real name was publicized by Le Journal in 2019.
The name of the “house grump” was “completely burned” when The newspaper unveiled his mode of operation in 2019, so the 36-year-old admits that he now has to steal identities and obtain fake cards on the dark web.
In a telephone interview, Aristidis Tsoukalas admitted without too much restraint that he had bought himself false proof of identity on the internet.
“My name is terrible, it is destroyed,” he said. I did this to be able to find myself a roof and so that my family would not be on the street. I can no longer use my name due to past mistakes. »
A former lawyer and his cousin
The newspaper was able to trace at least four times he used a false name and false papers to rent houses. Among the stolen identities, we find that of a former Crown prosecutor as well as that of his cousin.
Although he seems to be continuing his house rental scheme with impunity, Tsoukalas is still well known to the police. In August, he was arrested for a story of concealment with stolen vehicles. In 2021, he was charged since he allegedly once again claimed to be another person at a banking institution.
In 2019, he was found guilty of a major fraud and was ordered to repay, with his accomplices, nearly $150,000 to a defrauded bank. In 2008, he also pleaded guilty to charges of credit card theft and conspiracy.
“I’ve done stupid things in my life, but now I’ve changed, I swear, I don’t want to do that anymore,” said the 30-year-old.
Wanted by many
Moreover, as he moves constantly, he always provides the same address to the police and to the Court; that of the house of his ex-spouse, where he lived five years ago.
“There are so many people looking for him, I don’t even understand how he still walks on his two legs”, launched on condition of anonymity the one who currently occupies the residence. According to him, many people have been knocking on his door for years in the hope of falling on Aristidis Tsoukalas. In addition to the police, bailiffs, and representatives of the Court, unsavory criminals are looking for him, assures the occupant of the premises.
“He owes a lot of money to a lot of people. He’s a crook, no less,” he says.