He's a renter's worst nightmare — an ex-cop authorities say regularly harasses and intimidates rent-stabilized tenants to force them out so their landlord can charge higher rent.
His name is Anthony Falconite, and this week state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman took the unusual step of slapping him with a “cease and desist” order, demanding he halt an increasingly aggressive campaign that’s crossed the legal line.
In documents obtained by the Daily News, Schneiderman charges that Falconite has forced his way into apartments, snapped photos of tenants’ mail and belongings and repeatedly threatened them with eviction.
Tenants say he’s followed them to and from work, confronting them at their jobs about where they really live. He has questioned family members and even tenants’ children. He’s pretended to be a maintenance worker or a FedEx agent to get inside their apartments.
Among his employers, according to the Daily News: Steven Croman of 9300 Realty.
Do you recognize Mr. Falconite? Has he ever approached you in the East Village?
Cease & desist is good but why didn't they arrest him for breaking & entering or harrassment ?
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's pretty much exactly how I pictured this guy would look after reading the article.
ReplyDeleteThis meathead just got put on BLAST.
ReplyDeleteIs the attorney general ever going to investigate how many tenants scam the system? Because everyone is so honest and ethical when it cones.to keeping these apts right? Reminds me of when welfare got reformed . Dinkins said it would be Calcutta on the Hudson. Turned out about half a
ReplyDeletemillion people were scamming the system. I don't recall any massive prosecutions for fraud. Same deal here. Of course the city under deblasio will never do this. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteGO SCHNEIDERMAN!
This dude sucks and I've dealt with him before. He went and harassed my parents 25 miles outside of the city. I hope this is the beginning of a bigger crack down.
ReplyDeleteyes there are people scamming the system, rich and poor people, for various reasons. the rich scam millions (look around, government, non-profits, everyone), poor scam possibly hundreds, they hope for thousands.
ReplyDeletebut the difference here is that landlords are trying to evict tenants so they can raise the rent. cheating landlords, store-keepers, taxes, etc. is not quite the same as being tossed out onto the street.
extraordinary rent increases are killing the city - for stores and residents alike.
i do not enjoy the 24-hour party and tourist mecca the city has become.
and where will the people that clean the streets, serve the meals, and clean the apartments live?
He works hand-in-hand with 9300 Realty's Janeth Donovan, doing the bidding of their boss Steve Croman. They tell lies just to intimidate. They create hostile environments and they make EVERYONE feel harassed. Even the market-rate tenants have to deal with their crappy building maintenance. They get locked into 2-year leases, paying at the top of their budgets, so they feel stuck and afraid to complain about the dirty buildings, broken doors, constant utility shut-offs, and dangerous conditions.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that, his Facebook profile pic or something?
ReplyDeleteAs a 9300 tenant I'd like to add my voice to the public disapproval of these cronies! Day in and day out I hear stories of them doing all sorts of things to terrorize people and my story is no different.
ReplyDeleteSchneiderman's good. He came down hard on our landlord after their leasing agents got caught lying about provisions on leases.
ReplyDeleteLandlords all over the city hire douchebags like this to investigate/harass tenants. My neighbor had to spend thousands of dollars in court to prove that his mother, who owns a house in Queens, wasn't his wife and that that house wasn't his actual place of residence. The landlord knew they had a bullshit case, but thought they could force him out anyway by making him spend all that money in court. Other people in my building had similar issues with our landlord who used an attorney instead of an ex cop to do the private investigations.
@ July 25, 2014 at 10:28 AM
Oh boo fucking hoo.
haha at 10:28 AM. I bet you're one of those people that never met an authority figure he didn't want to bow to.
ReplyDeleteYeah, my heart really bleeds for the poor, exploited landlords of Manhattan!
This goon was in my building the other morning harassing one of my neighbors, trying to see if he wanted to move out for a few thousand bucks, and hoping to intimidate with his cop-ness.
ReplyDeleteTo jazz and ken- I made a legit point- I didnt say landlords are poor or exploited-this whole system is a complete mess - oh and i don't rent - haha -
ReplyDelete10:28 AM/8:05 PM, you don't rent because you're still smooching off your mommy and daddy and living in their basement. Again, you've made this post about you, much like the Boulton & Watt's post. Me, me, me. All about meeeeeeeeeeeee.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Falconite is no different than cops who are still with the NYOD; they are serving and protecting the corporations and riches, not the public or those who are in need of assistance. How do you think he's such an expert with this kind of tactic?
The MISSION of the New York City Police Department is to enhance the quality of life of the riches, mostly white, in our City by working in partnership with the corporation and billionaires in accordance with constitutional rights, which NYPD ignores and violates, to enforce the laws, which NYPD breaks, preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment of the rich like Steve Croman.
This guy is actually retired fireman. He was cop for a few years , resigned and joined the FDNY. He was a fireman much longer than he was a cop. Google him.
ReplyDeleteActually I just made a comment. When.people here can't defend their position they attack the commenter. I made a couple points but the bottom line is this whole situation is a mess. I don't rent because I bought myself a place. Sorry that bothers you. I remember the other post now. You flipped out because I had the gall to suggest that in NYC in 2014 charging $12 a plate isn't outrageous. Whatever . Maybe not.being vulnerable to these landlords is a better idea. Maybe pushing deblasio to.overhaul the system is the way to go. Isn't he the messaih who is going to change NYC?
ReplyDeleteWhy is he a renters worst nightmare? If you are paying your rent and not scamming what's the problem?
ReplyDeleteJuly 26, 2014 at 4:04 PM
ReplyDeleteNothing was wrong with the system until Pataki and Republicans in the state senate destroyed it. Whiner.
Someone should punch out this guy. He's not a cop anymore, he has no more arresting powers, he's like everyone else now, fuck him.
ReplyDeleteD
Yes, Mr. Falconite is 100% a liar in a bully's body.
ReplyDeleteHe weaves in an out of the tough cop talk, sometimes he says he's here on behalf of the NYPD, and sometimes he says he's a former cop. He often reaches or pads down his waistband as if he’s carrying a gun.
He loves Anthony Falconite, why I don’t know. He'll tell you all about the reality TV show that was made about him, and how he gunned someone down while on the NYPD, as well as his days as a Fire Inspector, never mentions the Fire Fighter part. I guess that's too noble. The rogue cop is the part he loves best. He really enjoys letting you know how amazing he is.
He also attempts to come on to women who refuse his threshold buyouts standing in their doorway asking how $10,000 dollars sounds, as he did with several of my neighbors. Does Steve Croman know what Anthony does on his watch?
I'd like to know how many buildings in East New York, Crown Heights, etc etc , Steve Croman owns that Mr. Falconite has been to offering buyouts.
Anthony often poses as part of building management responsible for repairs, claims to be visiting to inspect for repairs, and then does nothing but open doors and look around, going as far as insisting he be allowed to talk a picture of your apartment. And never reports or returns to fix anything.
9300 also sends out letters when they first take over your building asking what repairs they can do.
However, if you have a repair, they waste your time, by either not showing up or doing the repair incorrectly on purpose.
He's a bully at the least, with a bad case of John Wayne syndrome. He has a good rap, but once you let him know you see through all 5'7" of him, his game is over. Laughing in his face is a great way to bring down that dumbass facade he sports.
If Steve Croman wants me out of my apartment he'll have to pay me the value of it.
Does Steve Croman thinking people who live in Rent Stabilized apartments are so fucking stupid that they'll walk for $10,000 or less?
When Steve Croman's two brains pump back into each other perhaps he'll come to his senses.
Steve, even Low Security prisons suck.
Is Anthony Falconite someone I would have called a "hero" during his 6 yr stint with the NYPD or on 9/11 with the FDNY?
Two disgraceful people, who actually believe they are entitled to treat other human beings anyway
they want. I hope my taxes do not go to pay Mr. Falconite's pensions if he collects them, as he deserves not a dime of it.
I pay my rent, cause no problems for my neighbors or to the property, only to allow greedy scumbags to disturb myself and others and violate our right to a peaceful dwelling?
I don't think so!