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"In this case the defendant allegedly took advantage of victims, many of whom were non-English speaking immigrants, seeking housing," Middlesex DA Marian Ryan said in the statement. "Using his position he allegedly took the victims' money for his own personal use, stealing not only their money but their opportunity to rent an apartment they had been led to believe they had secured."

Riel would have rental applicants pay him directly for deposits and leave payee information blank. Later, he would fill in his name or a family member's in place of the management company's.

Investigators traced a payment to Riel's personal Zelle account, a money transfer app, for at least one person, the DA's office said.

When these applicants asked why they couldn't move into their apartments, Riel would make up excuses, like delayed inspections.

Riel was arraigned in Malden District Court this week on eleven counts of larceny over $1,200, six counts of larceny under $1,200 and one count of false entries or omissions in corporate books. A not guilty plea to all charges was entered on his behalf and he is being held on bail, court records show.