A real estate fraud scheme that left an elderly Harlem homeowner homeless and disrupted the lives of tenants has landed Joseph Makhani behind bars for up to 21 years.
The 63-year-old Long Island man was sentenced Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court after being convicted of stealing the deeds to two Harlem brownstones valued at approximately $4.7 million combined. Makhani received consecutive prison terms for two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, along with a concurrent sentence for scheme to defraud.
The sentencing follows a yearslong investigation and prosecution led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Makhani must also pay $500,000 in restitution to Flushing Bank by May 2027. A separate hearing will address the deeds and mortgages connected to one of the properties, The New York Post reported…