A New York fraudster used forged deeds to steal two Harlem homes worth $4.7 million, leaving an elderly owner in a homeless shelter; after 14 years, a court sentenced him to up to 21 years in prison
A New York man who used forged property documents to take control of two Harlem brownstones worth around $4.7 million was sentenced to up to 21 years in prison on Tuesday. Joseph Makhani’s actions left an elderly homeowner without a home for years, while he collected rent from apartments in the stolen property.The ruling issued by Office of the New York State Attorney General Letitia James, found him guilty of stealing the two properties and carrying out a scheme to defraud. The case involved brownstones at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street in Harlem.According to the sentence, Makhani had spent years deceiving people. His actions had caused problems for tenants and left the rightful owner of one of the properties homeless. “After years of scheming and deceiving New Yorkers, Joseph Makhani is finally facing justice,” James said.The case began in 2012, when Makhani started using fraudulent deeds, false documents and companies under his control to claim ownership of the two properties. The investigation later found that he had used different methods to take control of each building.A seven-week trial concluded in July this year, when a jury found Makhani guilty on three counts. These included two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree and one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree.
How Makhani took control of the first Harlem home
One of the properties was located at 107 West 118th Street. The evidence presented during the trial showed that Makhani began using fraudulent documents to take control of the brownstone in 2012.A corporation controlled by Makhani claimed in a property filing that it had paid just $10 for the building. He later submitted a mortgage application in which he falsely stated that he had purchased the property for $975,000.The application helped him obtain a $650,000 construction loan for renovation work. He later refinanced the property and received a long-term mortgage loan worth $1.2 million.Makhani also submitted a forged application to the New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The application sought to convert the building into market-rate rental apartments.Between 2016 and 2023, he rented out the apartments in the building. Each unit was rented for as much as $3,400 per month, allowing him to collect more than $12,000 in monthly rent.The elderly homeowner, however, did not receive any money from Makhani. Despite being the rightful owner of the property, the person was forced to live in a homeless shelter for years. The brownstone was valued at approximately $2.9 million in 2023.
Second property involved a tenant’s signature
Makhani also took control of another brownstone at 135 West 131st Street in Harlem. The evidence presented during the trial showed that he began using fraudulent deeds and other false documents to claim the property in 2012.The last genuine deed recorded for the building dated back to 1975. It was registered in the name of an elderly homeowner who died soon afterwards.Around 2012, Makhani approached one of the building’s tenants and claimed that he had purchased the brownstone. He obtained the tenant’s signature by pretending to offer him a job.Makhani then filed a fraudulent deed that falsely presented the tenant as the building’s owner. This allowed him to transfer the property to a company under his control.In 2013, he attempted to evict the tenants and filed a lawsuit against them on behalf of his company. However, questions were raised about his ownership claim and the deed during the eviction proceedings.Makhani then filed another fraudulent deed. This document claimed that the heirs of the last recorded owner had transferred the property to his company. The brownstone was valued at approximately $1.8 million in 2018.The trial evidence also showed that Makhani arranged fraudulent civil lawsuits as part of his efforts to take control of both properties.
Court orders prison sentence and restitution
Following the seven-week trial, the jury found Makhani guilty in July 2026. He was convicted of two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree and one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree.New York State Supreme Court Judge Michele Rodney sentenced him to four to 12 years in prison for stealing the property at 107 West 118th Street. He received another three to nine years for the theft involving 135 West 131st Street. These sentences will run consecutively.He was also sentenced to one and one-third to four years for the scheme to defraud. This sentence will run concurrently with the others. The combined sentence is seven to 21 years in prison.Makhani has also been ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to Flushing Bank by May 7, 2027. The court will hold another hearing to decide whether the deeds and mortgage recorded against the property at 107 West 118th Street should be cancelled.
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