NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A New Bedford man was found guilty of more than a dozen charges related to a scam that defrauded prospective tenants searching for affordable housing, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) announced Monday. Following a bench trial with seven days of testimony, Victor Tiu Lopez was convicted of eight counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, four counts of larceny under $1,200 by false pretenses, and one count of witness intimidation. The AGO said Lopez was indicted in September 2022 for posing as the owner of affordable apartments in New Bedford and stealing more than $20,000 from 13 prospective renters. Many of the victims were from a Guatemalan-Mayan immigrant community whom the AGO described as particularly vulnerable due to the ongoing housing crisis. REPORT: Home prices up 50% in 10 RI communities since 2018 Additionally, Lopez was convicted of threatening to kill an organizer from Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores, a nonprofit supporting immigrant workers, after the organizer helped victims report Lopez’s fake contracts. Court documents indicate that Lopez is barred from contacting the victims or the nonprofit and must stay at least 50 yards away from them. A judge sentenced Lopez to two consecutive two-year prison terms, followed by one year of probation. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW