INDIANAPOLIS — An out-of-state landlord charged with not paying almost $2 million in utility bills at four Indianapolis apartment complexes made his initial court appearance Friday.
Chaim Puretz lists a New York state address. He is charged with corrupt business influence and 12 counts of theft.
Tenants paid for water in their rent, but investigators say Puretz deposited $1.6 million in his own accounts instead of paying Citizens Energy.
Court records say Berkley Commons, Capital Place Apartments, Covington Square Apartments and the Woods at Oak Crossing ran up a total delinquent utility bill of $1,973,730.51 from October 2019 to April 2022. That led to Citizens Energy shutting off the water at Berkley Commons and Capital Place Apartments on the southside in February 2022.
The City of Indianapolis made an emergency payment of $850,000 to get the water back on in less than 24 hours. Investigators tried to track down the owners for more than a year.
The prosecutor's office has also filed a civil forfeiture action against Puretz to try to freeze accounts and get restitution for the city.
The four apartment complexes are now under new ownership.
A jury trial for Puretz has been set for July 15.