Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. has unveiled an indictment against three individuals and three companies in a case involving the theft of a Harlem brownstone. The charges allege that the accused formed a conspiracy to commit deed fraud and falsely present themselves as the deceased owner's heirs, as reported by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Angela Jazmin Ramos Malpica, Yuan Kuei Li, and Abdur Rahman, along with companies Great Neck Acquisitions Inc, White Lotus Consulting Inc, and Ocean Property and Trading Inc, are facing multiple felony charges, including Grand Larceny and Identity Theft.
The indictment details a complicated fraud scheme that began after the passing of brownstone owner Okryun Marrero in 2018, whose property was left to her immediate family. Ramos, allegedly posing as an heir, was able to "sell" the property to Li, who then quickly "resold" it to Rahman and Great Neck Acquisitions Inc, despite no actual money exchanged as far as reported. The defendants are accused to have then used the property's value to secure a hefty mortgage and construction loan.
"During a time when housing is scarce, I will not stand for fraudsters coming to Harlem to try and perpetrate these pernicious schemes," Bragg stated, emphasizing his office's commitment to prosecuting those who exploit homeowners, especially in moments of vulnerability like grieving a loss. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office urges the public to report any suspicions of deed fraud to their Housing and Tenant Protection Unit.
According to the DA’s office, Ramos, Li, and Rahman and the involved companies were able to reportedly obtain over $1.6 million in loans, portions of which were used by Li to pay for renovations via a company he controlled. As part of the alleged scheme, Rahman is accused to have received a significant amount of this money into his company's bank accounts, with Ramos cashing checks worth over $250,000 backed by the fraudulently obtained loans. This systemic exploitation is far-reaching, with DA Bragg thanking multiple city departments for their assistance in uncovering the criminal activity.
The creation of the Housing & Tenant Protection Unit under DA Bragg’s direction in October 2022 has been pivotal in initiating long-term investigations into criminal acts by landlords and developers. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Chikaelo Ibeabuchi, and the indictment serves as a reminder of the ongoing commitment to protect New Yorkers from predatory real estate practices.
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