City Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse, in collaboration with Access Justice Brooklyn, is hosting an informational session to arm homeowners with the knowledge and tools needed to protect their properties from deed theft.
The event will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at Narcisse’s District Office, located at 5827 Flatlands Ave.
Deed theft has emerged as a pressing issue in Brooklyn, with speculators and fraudulent actors exploiting legal loopholes to prey on vulnerable homeowners, particularly in gentrifying neighborhoods. City officials and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office have been actively warning homeowners about the dangers of deed fraud and the importance of vigilance.
Sanford Solny is allegedly one of the most notorious figures in the Brooklyn deed fraud scene. Solny has been accused of deceiving numerous homeowners facing foreclosure into signing over their properties, leaving them burdened with debt while he profits from the disputed properties.
Other infamous cases involve a group of investors — Eddie Doran, Jonathan Marcus, Vincent Longobardi and Earl Davis — who have allegedly leveraged New York’s partition law to acquire fractional interests in properties from distant heirs, often forcing sales and stripping wealth from Black and Latino homeowners. These investors have become well-known for using these tactics to enrich themselves at the expense of long-time residents.
Last summer, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez held a press conference on the issue and announced that Derrick Johnson, also known as Jay Rendell, had been convicted. Johnson admitted guilt in a scheme that defrauded homeowners in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick and Park Slope, amounting to approximately $775,000 in theft. Using shell corporations and forged documents, Johnson manipulated property titles and mortgage documents, ultimately leading to significant financial harm for the affected homeowners.
In light of these alarming trends, the upcoming event will feature attorneys from Access Justice Brooklyn who will discuss common scams impacting homeowners and provide an overview of laws aimed at preventing deed fraud. The presentation will also cover practical steps homeowners can take to protect themselves and rectify fraudulent deed transfers.
Attendees will learn about critical measures such as registering with the NYC Department of Finance’s Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) to monitor property records for unauthorized changes. Other tips include ensuring the Department of Finance has the correct mailing address, never signing documents without fully understanding them, and staying alert for unexpected changes in property tax or water bills.
Councilmember Narcisse’s office encourages all Brooklyn homeowners to attend this important event to safeguard their homes against deed fraud. By raising awareness and providing actionable advice, Brooklyn leaders hope to stem the tide of deed fraud and protect the community’s generational wealth from unscrupulous actors.
