"Manhattan Man's 5-Year Rent-Free Hotel Stay Ends in Criminal Charges"

Mickey Barreto exploited a housing law to live rent-free in a Manhattan hotel for five years, then filed false property records claiming ownership of the entire building, leading to his arrest on fraud and criminal contempt charges. Barreto's legal saga began when he and his boyfriend paid $200 to rent a room in the New Yorker Hotel, using a loophole to demand a lease. He lived there without paying rent, and in 2019, he uploaded a fake deed claiming ownership of the building. Barreto's actions have led to ongoing civil cases and legal trouble, with prosecutors alleging that he repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of the iconic landmark hotel.