Prosecutors allegedly stole three expensive Queens homes through a conduct fraud scheme, including the four of them — including a flashy real estate agent who prefers leopard print boots — allegedly stole three expensive Queens homes.
Valeri of Fall, 41, a real estate agent in Comac, New York – known for her colorful Instagram presence.
Valeri and others – Karl Avinger (42) and Lawrence T. Ray (38) of Queens. And Tory Giss of Roselle, New Jersey attracted himself on Tuesday after the Great Ju judge handed over a 47 count indictment detailing the wild crime.
“This is a case in which the defendant acted in concert to forge documents, filed failed measures and stole a home from a vulnerable victim in Queens County,” Assistant District Attorney Rachel Stein told court Tuesday.
They each pleaded not guilty to their arrest at Queens County Supreme Court.
Authorities allegedly moved to a company owned by Ray when their scheme began on April 10, 2023, when Abinger and Valeri filed fake documents with the city's finance department claiming the 76-year-old woman who owned the home on 208th Avenue, Jamaican estate.
The conspirators also forged the signature of the dead sister of a woman who once co-owned the house, prosecutors allegedly a notary.
A few weeks later, Avinger and Valeri allegedly did the same to their mother and daughter who owned the house on Road 61 in Kew Garden Hills. They then forged more documents, including marriage certificates and driver's licenses, which allowed them to sell to third parties for $600,000 in May 2023.
They allegedly wired around $442,000 to Ray's bank account after sale. This is the subject of a civil lawsuit currently pending for investigation.
On May 4, the defendant attempted to obtain another Jamaican Estate home, owned by the 82-year-old woman through the same hand-held process, prosecutors said.
Supreme Court Judge Li Chen cut off the defendant's supervisory release after the hearing, but Abinger, who has been convicted of previous felony and misdemeanors, needed an electronic monitor.
The DA's office asked him to hold him on $1.5 million bail, citing his history and the open Nassau County warrants, Avinger's numerous aliases and fake names, and the fact that the authorities revoked his parole four times.
However, despite “serious charges” and “serious criminal history,” Chen decides to allow his supervised release.
Valeri's lawyer, loaded with selfies and motivational mottos that have attracted attention on her Instagram profile, said she lives with a sick mother and six-month-old child.
Chen decides to free her before limiting Valeri's trip to Long Island and five districts.
Each defendant can serve anywhere in prison for five to 25 years if convicted.
The next court date is April 29th.
