Manhattan DA Charges Brooklyn Man Of Using Forged POA Revocation, Bogus Deed & Mortgage In Attempt To Swipe Harlem Brownstone From Deceased Owner

From the Office of the New York County District Attorney:

• Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced [Monday] the indictment of a Brooklyn man for filing a forged deed and other fraudulent documents in an attempt to steal a Harlem brownstone. The defendant, ENRIQUE CASTILLO, also known as ENRIQUE FERNANDEZ, 52, was indicted on charges of attempted grand larceny, offering a false instrument for filing, and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

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• [Carolyn] Todd, who died at age 57 in March 2005, was the lifelong owner of the Harlem brownstone. In January 2005, her health failing, Ms. Todd gave power of attorney to [her cousin, James] Bryant, who was then caring for her at his home in Ohio. A short time later, she conveyed the brownstone to him and his wife Debbie as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Mr. Bryant subsequently filed the deed conveying the property to him with the City Register.

• The investigation began when Mr. Bryant contacted the District Attorney’s Office in June 2008 after learning of [a] false mortgage and “Revocation of Power of Attorney.” When he was arrested in December 2008, CASTILLO was in possession of a forged social security identification card.

Go here for the Manhattan DA's entire press release.

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