deed theft

New York Attorney General Letitia James charged Queens resident Mark Salkey with stealing the Brooklyn home of Althea Garrick, an elderly woman with dementia, through forged documents and fraudulent transfers. Salkey allegedly rented parts of the home to tenants while Garrick and her ex-husband lived in a single bedroom, collecting over $70,000 in rent and stealing approximately $148,000 from Garrick and $20,000 from her ex-husband’s pension.

Claims of deed theft are resurfacing against Assemblymember Jaime Williams in a competitive Brooklyn assembly race ahead of the Democratic primary.

Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted state funding and legal tools to combat deed theft in Brooklyn but did not commit to an eviction pause requested by advocates. Local officials and organizations continue to push for a temporary moratorium on evictions in properties affected by deed theft or fraud, which Hochul's office says cannot be unilaterally imposed without a declared state disaster emergency.

A report by the Center for NYC Neighborhoods reveals that $400 million worth of New York City homes are at risk of deed theft and real estate schemes, highlighting the need for increased government support for estate planning and prevention efforts.

New York City Council Member Chi Ossé, a Democratic socialist and ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was arrested during a protest against a woman’s eviction in Brooklyn. Ossé was charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct after blocking an eviction site, while his office highlighted issues of Black displacement and deed theft in the area.