New York prosecutors say a yearslong real estate hustle stripped two Harlem brownstones from their rightful owners and left at least one elderly homeowner without a roof over her head. The case, brought by the New York state attorney general, centers on defendant Joseph Makhani and alleges forged deeds, fake signatures and sham corporate transfers that hid who was really controlling the buildings. The charges stretch back to 2012 and have been fought over in court for years.
According to the Attorney General’s office, the properties at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street in Harlem are among the brownstones prosecutors say Makhani took over through forged deeds and shell companies. The office says tax filings tied to the scheme misreported purchase prices and that Makhani refinanced one building and collected rent while the true owner got nothing. Prosecutors also say that owner, despite still being the legal owner on paper, was forced into a homeless shelter.
The grand-jury indictment lays out multiple counts, including criminal possession of stolen property, residential mortgage fraud, falsifying business records and scheme to defraud, and says the alleged conduct ran from 2012 through 2021. The filing alleges that Makhani obtained construction and refinance loans, including a long-term mortgage of roughly $1.2 million, and pulled in thousands of dollars a month in rent from units he controlled. Those accusations are detailed in the attorney general’s office indictment.
How Prosecutors Say He Did It
Prosecutors describe a layered paperwork play: forged signatures and fake deeds were recorded to move title, shell LLCs stood in for real owners, and falsified mortgage documents brought in loan proceeds that funded renovations and then refinances. In one alleged example, investigators say a tenant’s signature was copied and pasted onto a deed that falsely listed the tenant as the owner, which let companies tied to Makhani shift title. Court records describe a pattern of document fraud followed by loan activity and rental collections that, prosecutors say, benefited entities linked to Makhani while the actual owners were shut out.
Victim And Witness Details Reported In The Press
Media reports identify the displaced homeowner as 83-year-old Veronica Palmer and say she has been scheduled to testify in the case. The same coverage says prosecutors plan to call a witness named Tyrone Boozier, who they allege was persuaded to claim ownership and later signed the 131st Street property over to Makhani. Defense attorney Susan Necheles told the New York Post that her client “is not a deed fraudster and did not defraud anyone out of the properties or money.”
Where The Case Stands
Makhani pleaded not guilty at arraignment and the case remains before New York County Supreme Court. The most serious counts carry potential prison time measured in years if prosecutors secure convictions, although for now the charges remain allegations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. According to prosecutors, their case leans heavily on recorded deeds, mortgage applications, bank records and other paperwork gathered over a lengthy investigation.
The attorney general’s office has made a point of targeting alleged deed theft and has publicly committed to pursuing cases that hit vulnerable homeowners. For neighbors and housing advocates, the accusations highlight how forged documents and predatory deals can push longtime owners out of their homes even while the properties quietly change hands on paper.
