How one man secured five years of free New York hotel accommodation before claiming ownership of the building

A New York man exploited a city housing law to live rent-free in a landmark Manhattan hotel for five years. Mickey Barreto, 48, was arrested and charged for filing false property records after claiming ownership of the entire New Yorker Hotel building. Barreto claims it should be a civil, not a criminal case, and denies intent to commit fraud. He argues his legal wrangling is aimed at denying profits to the Unification Church, which has sued him in a civil case.

Exploiting city housing law

Mickey Barreto exploited a city housing law to live rent-free in a landmark Manhattan hotel for five years.

Barreto claims it should be a civil, not a criminal case, and denies intent to commit fraud.

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