New York – New York authorities have brought criminal charges against a Brooklyn landlord they say drove tenants out of rent-regulated apartments by doing construction and demolition at his building.
The indictment handed up Wednesday charges Daniel Melamed with unlawfully evicting tenants from rent-regulated apartments, endangering the welfare of a child and filing a false document.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio plan to discuss the Crown Heights landlord’s arrest Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at a Brooklyn street corner.
The officials say the arrest is the first to come from their joint task force to prevent tenant harassment.
The task force was launched in February to inspect properties that have been the subject of harassment complaints.
Melamed was expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
A call to his attorney wasn’t immediately returned.
