“Man Arrested for Exploiting Housing Law to Live Rent-Free in Iconic New York Hotel”

Man Arrested for Exploiting Housing Law to Live Rent-Free in Iconic New York Hotel

Living rent-free in New York City is a dream for many, but for Mickey Barreto, it became a reality – at least for a while. Barreto managed to exploit an obscure local housing law for five years, allowing him to reside in the historic New Yorker Hotel without paying a dime. However, his luck ran out when he took it a step further and claimed ownership of the entire building, even trying to charge rent to other tenants. This week, Barreto found himself in handcuffs, facing charges of filing false property records.

Surprising Arrest

Barreto’s arrest came as a shock to him. When the police arrived at his boyfriend’s apartment with guns and bullet-proof shields, he assumed it was a misunderstanding. “I said ‘Oh, I thought you were doing something for Valentine’s Day to spice up the relationship until I saw the female officers,'” Barreto recalled. He firmly believes that this should be a civil case rather than a criminal one.

Exploiting a Loophole

Barreto’s journey to living rent-free began when he moved to New York from Los Angeles. His boyfriend informed him of a little-known loophole that allowed occupants of single rooms in pre-1969 buildings to demand a six-month lease. By paying for a night in the New Yorker Hotel, Barreto believed he qualified as a tenant. As expected, the hotel promptly evicted him when he requested a lease. Unfazed, Barreto took his case to court.

A Legal Battle

Barreto’s legal saga started with a trip to court the day after his eviction. He appealed to the Supreme Court and emerged victorious, as the building’s owners’ lawyers failed to show up. The judge ordered the hotel to provide Barreto with a key, granting him “possession” of his room. From there, he lived in the hotel until July 2023 without paying any rent, as negotiations for a lease never took place.

Fraudulent Claims

However, Manhattan prosecutors argue that Barreto didn’t stop at simply occupying his room. In 2019, he uploaded a fake deed to a city website, falsely transferring ownership of the New Yorker Hotel from the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity to himself. The prosecutor’s office states that Barreto attempted to charge various entities as the building’s owner, including demanding rent from another tenant and registering the hotel under his name for water and sewage payments. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commented on the case, saying, “As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the City’s most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel.”

An Iconic Landmark

The New Yorker Hotel, located near Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, may not be among the city’s most glamorous hotels, but it holds a special place in history. Built in 1930, it is an Art Deco treasure. The hotel’s massive red “New Yorker” sign makes it a favorite subject for photographers. Throughout its existence, the New Yorker has hosted notable figures such as inventor Nikola Tesla and has been a popular choice for boxers like Muhammad Ali when they had bouts at the Garden. After closing as a hotel in 1972, part of the building reopened as a hotel in 1994 following years of church use.

A Legal Battle Continues

The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, also known as the Unification Church, filed a lawsuit against Barreto in 2019 regarding his false claims of ownership. In the ongoing civil case, a judge has ruled that Barreto cannot represent himself as the owner. A spokesperson for the church declined to comment on Barreto’s recent arrest due to the ongoing litigation. Barreto maintains that his actions were not fraudulent but rather a form of activism aimed at denying profits to the Unification Church, which has faced criticism over its recruiting methods and relationship with North Korea.

Looking Ahead

Barreto’s legal battles are far from over. While he has never hired a lawyer for the civil cases and has represented himself, he recently secured a criminal defense attorney. The outcome of his trial remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – Barreto’s attempt to live rent-free in the iconic New Yorker Hotel has certainly made headlines and sparked interest in the city’s housing laws. As the legal proceedings continue, onlookers are left wondering how such a remarkable exploit could occur in the heart of New York City.