Attorney General James Releases Statement on Sentencing of Deed Thief Joseph Makhani

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after notorious deed thief Joseph Makhani was sentenced to a combined total sentence of seven to 21 years in prison for stealing two Harlem brownstones worth approximately $4.7 million:

“After years of scheming and deceiving New Yorkers, Joseph Makhani is finally facing justice.

“Makhani’s heartless deed theft operation caused years of chaos for tenants and left the rightful owner of a valuable Harlem brownstone homeless.

“This case sends a clear message to anyone who attempts to steal a home in New York: we will not rest until you are held accountable for your crimes.

“My office works every day to stop deed theft, and we will continue to work with leaders statewide to protect the homes New Yorkers have worked their entire lives to afford.”

Attorney General James indicted Makhani in July 2023 for his scheme to steal two properties at 107 West 118th Street and 135 West 131st Street in Harlem. After a seven-week trial concluded in July 2026, a jury found Makhani guilty 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 today sentenced Makhani to four to 12 years for the theft of 107 West 118^th Street, three to nine years for the theft of 135 West 131^st Street to run consecutive to each other, and one and one-third to four years for the scheme to defraud to run concurrent for a combined total sentence of seven to 21 years in prison. Makhani must also pay $500,000 in restitution to Flushing Bank by May 7, 2027. The court will hold a later hearing to determine whether to vacate the deeds and mortgage that Makani recorded against the 107 West 118th Street property.

New Yorkers who believe they are a victim of deed theft are encouraged to contact OAG by calling 1 (800) 771-7755, emailing deedtheft@ag.ny.gov, or filing a confidential complaint online.

The criminal investigation was conducted by former Detective Angel Laporte and Detective Teresa Russo under the supervision of Deputy Chief Juanita Bright and Assistant Chief Samuel Scotellaro. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Nazy Modiri and Matthew Luongo from the Real Estate Enforcement Unit and Public Integrity Bureau, Senior Counsel Gabriel Tapalaga and Senior Counsel Gary Fishman of the Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Real Estate Enforcement Unit and Public Integrity Bureau Chief Gerard Murphy, Deputy Bureau Chief Mary Gorman, and Real Estate Enforcement Unit Section Chief Nicholas Batsidis. Legal Support Analysts Alexandra Crespo, Sultana Wahab and Thomas Hutto assisted in the prosecution. Forensic accounting was conducted by Principal Auditor Investigator Dmitry Temis, under the supervision of Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri and Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro of the Forensic Audit Section. The Criminal Justice Division is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux.

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