Cops Bag Landlord For Allegedly Forging Health Inspection Occupancy Permits Needed Prior To Renting Apartments; Tip From Local Non-Profit Social Services Agency Triggers Probe

In Lawrence, Massachusetts, the Eagle-Tribune reports:

• City officials have accused a landlord who owns several properties in Lawrence of forging occupancy permits.
  
  Edward Bonaccorsi forged the name of Health Code Inspector Raul Batistine on an occupancy permit, according to Mayor Daniel Rivera, who has pledged that the landlord will be prosecuted.
  
  Bonaccorsi could not be reached for comment [].
  
  The investigation began July 28, when Liz Rourke, intake coordinator for Community Teamwork Inc.,(1) discovered an occupancy permit that appeared to have a fake signature, according to Inspectional Services Director Pat Ruiz. Rourke reported this to Batistine, Ruiz said.
  
  As soon as the Inspectional Services Department viewed a copy of the permit, it was obvious the signature on it was not Batistine's, Ruiz said.
  
  "We will not tolerate slumlords in this community," Rivera said. "I want to make it clear that the days of illegal business arrangements and slumlords trying to take advantage of the city and its residents are over. They will pay for their actions and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
  
  City officials have found at least seven occupancy permits forged by Bonaccorsi, Rivera said. The City Attorney's Office and the Inspectional Services and Police departments are continuing the investigation, the mayor said.

For more, see Occupancy permits Landlord accuse of forgery ('We will not tolerate slumlords,' mayor says).

------------------------

(1) Community Teamwork, based in Lowell, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit agency that helps people with modest incomes obtain housing.