News Bedford-Stuyvesant

To arm homeowners against deed theft, lawmakers to host town hall

July 30, 2019 Kelly Mena
Bed-Stuy brownstones. Eagle file photo
Bed-Stuy brownstones. Eagle file photo
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In a bid to help defend homeowners being disproportionately targeted by the recent uptick in illegal property seizures sweeping across Central Brooklyn, top elected officials will come together this week to address the issue and disseminate resources to local communities.

Led by Attorney General Letitia James, top federal and local government officials will gather in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Tuesday night for a massive deed theft town hall.

The event will cover all areas of fraudulent property seizures, from deed theft and deed fraud to other forms of predatory schemes diminishing black and brown property ownership in Brooklyn.

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The historically black neighborhood of Bed-Stuy is said to be at the epicenter of the deed theft problem. According to the Attorney General’s Office, other neighborhoods feeling the brunt include Crown Heights, Flatbush and Brownsville.

“People work to achieve a vital piece of the American Dream, but that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare when that home is stolen out from under them. Deed theft has become a common tool used by scammers to illegally obtain real estate in prominent housing markets like Brooklyn, greatly harming senior citizens and destabilizing communities,” James told the Eagle.

James said back in April in a public statement that her office receives more deed theft complaints from Brooklyn than from all of the other boroughs combined.

An increase in property values over the last decade has led to property predators swarming on Central Brooklyn neighborhoods in a bid to cash in on the gentrification sweeping across the borough. In particular, senior homeowners have been targeted the most for their vulnerability to illegal schemes.

Just last month, a 65-year-old property owner of a historic brownstone was allegedly tricked into selling his property while under the influence of alcohol. Darius Griffiths claims that he was targeted by a man from August West Development one night in August 2014, when he was pressured into signing a contract on the hood of a car. Griffiths sold his home — which his family says is worth $1 million — for a mere $630,000. His case is still pending in court.

The Attorney General’s Office launched the Foreclosure Rescue Scam Prevention Initiative, a grant program focused on improving outreach, education and referral services for homeowners at risk of fraud schemes, in 2016. The initiative has invested $130 million into the umbrella Homeowner Protection Program, which is aimed at helping individuals avoid foreclosure.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who will be present at Tuesday night’s event, has prosecuted 22 cases of deed theft since 2016, with 14 ending in convictions and eight still pending, a spokesperson told the Eagle earlier this year.

Newly passed state legislation meant to help homeowners win back their deeds after falling victim to property fraud still awaits the governor’s signature. The bill’s main sponsor, State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, will also be at the town hall.

City Council member Robert Cornegy Jr., who represents Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights on the local level, is hoping that communities of color take advantage of the informational session.

“With the rise of gentrification and improved development conditions, too many homeowners are becoming the targets of scams and fraud. Events like this provide the essential tools for avoiding unscrupulous and predatory behavior,” Cornegy told the Eagle.

Other politicians expected to be in attendance include U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Assemblymember Tremaine Wright.

Representatives from community organizations that focus on property theft issues will also be in attendance, including Brooklyn Legal Services, Center for NYC Neighborhoods and the Brooklyn DA’s Action Center.

The event is slated for July 30 at 6 p.m. at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton St., in Bedford-Stuyvesant.


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1 Comment

  1. wisernow2013

    There were no members of the Jewish community observed to be in attendance at the town hall meeting on Tuesday To arm homeowners against deed theft, hosted by lawmakers. Were they barred? I have seen them at the board meetings.

    August 1, 2019 at 4:22 pm
    Reply