QUEENS, NY — A man who illegally took over a single-family home in Flushing and rented out rooms to others has been sentenced to two years in prison, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced this week.
Key Points
- A squatter was sentenced to two years in prison for unlawfully occupying a Flushing home.
- The man falsely claimed to be a tenant facing eviction and was caught on camera by local media.
- The rightful homeowner has since regained possession of the property.
Fake tenant claims caught on camera
The squatter reportedly broke into the residence in February and resisted efforts by the rightful homeowner to reclaim the property. When confronted, he claimed to be a legal tenant experiencing eviction and harassment. His statements and the dispute were recorded by a local news crew and drew national attention.
District Attorney Katz said the man exploited false legal claims in an attempt to maintain control of the property. “This defendant thought that he could get away with squatting inside someone else’s home and make a profit for himself based on his fictitious account of being a tenant,” she said.
Home returned to legal owner
The Queens DA’s Housing and Worker Protection Bureau handled the case, which resulted in the man’s conviction and subsequent sentencing. Officials said the illegal occupancy violated housing laws and defrauded both the homeowner and unsuspecting tenants.
Following legal proceedings, the property has been returned to the rightful owner.
Katz emphasized her office’s commitment to property rights, stating, “My office has prioritized removing those who enter a home without permission and returning the property to the rightful owner.”