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Owner Forced to Shelter as Brownstones Stolen on Paper
5 Jul
Summary
- Joseph Makhani convicted in a $4.7 million deed theft case.
- Fraudulent deeds and shell companies were used to seize properties.
- One owner was forced into a shelter while her brownstone was rented.
A New York jury convicted Joseph Makhani, 63, in a seven-week trial for a deed theft scheme that targeted two Harlem brownstones, together valued at approximately $4.7 million.
Makhani employed fraudulent deeds, fabricated documents, and shell companies to unlawfully gain control of properties located at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street.
At 107 West 118th Street, Makhani allegedly began his fraudulent activities in 2012, targeting a vulnerable elderly homeowner. His corporation claimed to have paid only $10 for the property, later obtaining mortgages totaling over $1.8 million.
This stolen brownstone, valued at about $2.9 million in 2023, was rented out from 2016 to 2023, generating over $12,000 monthly for Makhani. The rightful owner was displaced and forced to reside in a homeless shelter.
A second brownstone at 135 West 131st Street was also taken over using similar fraudulent methods, including forging a tenant's signature to transfer ownership to a Makhani-controlled company.
Makhani faces up to 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 28. The Attorney General's Office is providing resources for New York homeowners who suspect deed theft.
