New York AG Charges Man With eBay House Flipping Scheme

(revised 8-23-07)
The Niagara Gazette reports:

• "A Town of Niagara [New York] man was charged Thursday with defrauding investors through an eBay house-flipping scheme involving properties across the region. Joseph Furan, 39, ... was charged with fraud by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Furan is accused of falsely representing himself as a property flipper, or someone who buys homes with the intent to renovate them and sell them at a profit, according to a release from Cuomo’s office."

For more, see Town of Niagara man charged in housing scam.

Go here for New York AG Press Release (Cuomo files suit against Niagara Falls man who tried to sell bogus properties in and around Buffalo).

For follow-up stories, see:

Investor defends actions (Accused Town of Niagara man denies some charges from state; Falls woman says he swindled her).

Property investor in court today (Attorney general’s suit alleges Joseph Furan defrauded homebuyers on Internet) (8-22-07).

NY Man Cops Plea To Using The Internet To Sell Homes He Didn't Own

In Lockport, New York, The Buffalo News reports:

• Real estate scammer Joseph S. Furan pleaded guilty today to selling two Niagara Falls houses he did not actually own to an Englishman over the Internet. Furan, 40, of Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny [...]. Furan sold an English investor two houses in February 2007: one [...] for $19,000 and one [...] for $32,000.

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• "This con artist masqueraded as a legitimate real estate entrepreneur who lured victims into costly scams by selling properties he did not even own," Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a written statement. "As the entire country deals with continuing economic woes and a faltering housing market, my office will continue to pursue criminals like this who jeopardize investment in New York State."

For the story, see Real estate scammer admits to selling houses he didn't own.

Go here for earlier posts on the NY AG's pursuit of Joseph Furan.

NY AG Indicts Niagara Falls Man For Allegedly Using Online Ads To Sell Homes He Didn't Own Or Provide Title To

From the New York Attorney General's Office:

• Attorney General Andrew Cuomo [last week] announced the indictment of a Niagara Falls man who allegedly sold properties to a buyer from England and never provided the titles to the properties. Joseph Furan, 39, of [...] Niagara Falls, was indicted by a Niagara County Grand Jury on the charge of grand larceny in the third degree (class D felony).

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• According to the felony complaint, between January and March of 2007, Furan allegedly sold two Niagara Falls properties over the Internet to a buyer from England. Furan then allegedly failed to provide the titles to the properties and used the money from the sales to pay off various debts.

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• Earlier this year, it was discovered that Furan – in direct violation of [a] previous court order – had again placed ads on the Internet site Craigslist and faked his credentials in an attempt to flip properties he didn’t own to unsuspecting investors. It was during this time that the alleged grand larceny took place. Because of these violations, the Attorney General’s Office sought and obtained criminal contempt of court charges on August 15.

For more, see AG Cuomo Announces Indictment Of WNY House-Flipper For Stealing $39K From Unsuspecting Investor (Niagara Falls man allegedly sold property that he didn’t own over Internet; Sold another without providing title).

NY AG Charges Niagara Falls Man With Grand Larceny, Seeks Criminal Contempt Of Court Order In House Flipping Scam; Craigslist Ads Used To Find Victims

From the New York Attorney General's office:

• Attorney General Andrew Cuomo today announced his office is seeking a criminal contempt-of-court order against a Niagara Falls man who tried to defraud investors through a Western New York house-flipping scheme after he was ordered not to. He is also being charged with Grand Larceny for allegedly taking nearly $52,000 from one investor.

• Joseph Furan, 39, of Lockport Road in Niagara Falls, faces criminal contempt of court for 13 violations of a prior court judgment by fraudulently advertising properties on the popular Internet classified site Craigslist. Each violation can carry a maximum jail term of 30 days and a $1,000 fine. Furan is also facing the felony charge of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree for selling two properties to an investor over the Internet – and then not providing the titles.

For more, see Attorney General Cuomo Seeks Jail For Fraudulent, Habitual Western New York House-Flipper.

For details of Furan’s original scheme, see Cuomo files suit against Niagara Falls man who tried to sell bogus properties in and around Buffalo (Attempted to defraud investors through an eBay house-flipping scheme).