Man who lived rent-free in New Yorker Hotel, then claimed to own it, pleads guilty to fraud charge

A New York City man has pleaded guilty to fraud after a bizarre attempt to claim ownership of the iconic New Yorker Hotel, concluding an unusual legal battle that allowed him to live rent-free for years in one of Manhattan’s most recognizable buildings.

Mickey Barreto admitted in court on Wednesday that he forged property records as part of an elaborate scheme to take control of the historic Art Deco hotel. His admission brings to a close a case that exploited loopholes in tenant protection laws and exposed potential vulnerabilities in New York City’s property registration system.

According to Barreto, the saga began in 2018 when he and his boyfriend paid $200 for a one-night stay at the 43-story hotel. Barreto then attempted to leverage an obscure city housing regulation that provides certain protections to occupants of single-room buildings constructed before 1969. Based on this provision, he requested a formal lease for his room.

When hotel management rejected his request, Barreto escalated the matter to housing court. In a critical misstep, the hotel failed to send legal representation to a key hearing, resulting in a default judgment that granted Barreto “possession” of the room.

Manhattan prosecutors revealed that Barreto’s actions went far beyond merely securing a place to stay. He allegedly uploaded falsified deed documents to an official city website, fraudulently transferring ownership of the entire landmark building to himself. The audacious move temporarily created the appearance of legitimate ownership in property records.

The New Yorker Hotel, a 1,025-room establishment that opened in 1930, is currently owned by the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, commonly known as the Unification Church. The religious organization was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a controversial South Korean religious leader who proclaimed himself a messiah. The church has not issued any public statements regarding the case.

Court documents show that after creating the fraudulent deed, Barreto attempted to collect rent from at least one hotel tenant and demanded that the hotel’s bank transfer all accounts to his control. These actions ultimately led to criminal charges.

After several years of legal proceedings, Barreto was evicted from the premises earlier this year. He faced multiple felony fraud charges but was initially found unfit to stand trial, requiring a period of court-ordered psychiatric treatment before legal proceedings could continue.

As part of his plea agreement, Barreto received a six-month prison sentence, which he has already served during the legal proceedings, along with five years of probation, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Barreto had previously defended his actions in statements to the Associated Press, claiming that the housing court judge who granted him “possession” of his room had inadvertently given him rights to the entire building because it had never been legally subdivided into individual units.

“I never intended to commit any fraud. I don’t believe I ever committed any fraud,” Barreto stated at the time. “And I never made a penny out of this.”

His attorney, Brian Hutchinson, has not responded to requests for comment on the guilty plea.

The case highlights the sometimes complex intersection of New York City’s tenant protection laws and property regulations, particularly as they apply to hotels with long-term occupants. It also underscores potential vulnerabilities in the city’s property deed registration system that allowed falsified documents to be temporarily accepted as legitimate.

The New Yorker Hotel remains one of Manhattan’s most recognizable buildings, featuring prominently in the city skyline with its distinctive red sign and Art Deco architecture. The hotel has housed numerous famous guests throughout its history and continues to operate as both a hotel and home to various church-related activities.