Christopher Cable allegedly submitted false paperwork in real estate closing
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Queens Village man was arraigned today for allegedly using false and forged documents to sell a Brooklyn property and absconding with more than $200,000 after the real estate closing.
Christopher Cable, 39, was arraigned today before District Court Judge Darlene Harris on the charges of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree (a D felony). The defendant’s bail was set at $100,000 bond or $75,000 cash and he is due back in court on Feb. 1. He faces a maximum of up to 5 to 15 years in prison on the top charge.
“Real estate scams are always evolving and perpetrators are using new and inventive ways to defraud homeowners in Nassau County and around the state,” DA Singas said. “I encourage anyone who thinks they have been a victim of a real estate crime to contact my office through our 24-hour tip line.”
DA Singas said that on April 1, 2014, Christopher Cable allegedly submitted false and forged documents at a real estate closing in Syosset stating that he was the president of a corporation known as New York RE LLC and that he had corporate authority to sell its property located at 739 Hemlock Avenue, Brooklyn, NY to Hemlock House LLC, which was created solely for the purpose of taking ownership of the property.
The forged documents allegedly included an undated corporate Operating Agreement and a notarized Resolution to (Purchase) (Sell) (Mortgage) dated March 31, 2014, both of which bore the forged signature of the managing member of New York RE LLC. In fact, Cable had no relationship to this corporation or to the property whatsoever.
The sales price of the property was $225,000 and at the closing, Cable allegedly received $213,394.86 in proceeds. On April 2, 2014, he opened a bank account at Capital One Bank in Great Neck using a forged document entitled “Action by Sole Incorporator of New York RE LLC” dated November 17, 2009, which named Cable as a director of the company, also purportedly signed by the managing member of New York RE LLC. He deposited $178,394 of these funds into this account and then withdrew substantially all of this money from it. The closing was insured by Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, which paid the $225,000 claim that was subsequently made by the purchaser.
The actual owner of the property sold it to another party on May 1, 2014.
Nassau County residents who may have been a victim of a real estate crime are encouraged to call the NCDA Complaint tip line at 516-571-7755.
Assistant District Attorney Peter Mancuso of DA Singas’ Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Cable was represented at arraignment by Legal Aid.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.