New York deed theft attorney says conviction sends powerful warning as property fraud continues to threaten vulnerable homeowners
JAMAICA ESTATES, N.Y. — July 3, 2026 — A Kings Point man has been convicted of orchestrating a years-long deed theft scheme that fraudulently transferred ownership of two Harlem brownstones worth nearly $5 million — one of which left the rightful homeowner homeless.
After a seven-week trial, a jury found Joseph Makhani, 63, guilty of criminally possessing two residential properties located at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street in Harlem using fraudulent deeds and forged documents.
According to prosecutors, Makhani falsely claimed his company purchased the West 118th Street brownstone for just $10 before using conflicting documents to secure a construction loan and submitting forged paperwork to convert the building into market-rate apartments. He then rented the apartments for thousands of dollars per month while the property’s rightful owner received nothing, and ultimately lost their home, forcing them into a homeless shelter.
The second property, located at West 131st Street, was allegedly acquired through another series of fraudulent deeds after Makhani convinced a tenant to sign documents by promising him employment. Prosecutors said Makhani later attempted to evict longtime tenants and filed additional fraudulent documents after questions arose about his ownership.
Combined, the two Harlem brownstones were valued at approximately $4.7 million.
“This verdict is about far more than two buildings — it is about protecting New Yorkers from one of the most devastating forms of property crime,” said Tanya Hobson-Williams, founder of Hobson-Williams, P.C., a New York law firm representing victims of deed theft and real estate fraud. “When someone’s deed is stolen, they can lose their home, their life savings and, in the worst cases, their dignity and stability. In this case, a homeowner was literally driven into homelessness. That should never happen.”
Hobson-Williams said the conviction underscores the growing need for homeowners — particularly seniors and families who have owned property for decades — to create estate plans, to monitor their property records and seek immediate legal assistance if ownership documents appear to have been altered.
“Deed theft often happens quietly, but its consequences are catastrophic,” she said. “This case demonstrates that perpetrators can and will be held accountable.”
