48.7 F
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Williamsburg Landlord’s Representative Accused of Arson

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

356 Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg
A landlord’s representative allegedly set a fire outside a tenant’s apartment

Last November 2014, in an effort to force a tenant to pay past due rent, a Chasidic Brooklyn landlord’s representative allegedly started a fire outside of the property, at 356 Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg.

The alleged arsonist Yehuda Herskovic, 57, was working for Naftali Steinmetz, who is the owner of the building at 356 Marcy Avenue. Sources said Mr. Herskovic was “collecting rent” for Mr. Steinmetz.

According to a criminal complaint, Yehuda Herskovic, allegedly sent a series of text messages to Moses Greenfield, a resident of the 356 Marcy Avenue building, New York Post reported.

The text messages were full of typos and read as follows: “By 4 [o’clock] you will not be able to liv [sic],” he wrote. “In apartment, don’t many [sic] any mistake. Iam [sic] sirios [sic] two minutes is up … I am almost their [sic], I am here, I have put on fire.”

Greenfeld, delayed in his rent payment, was home at the time. New York Post stated that supposedly Greenfeld saw Herskovic start the inferno.

Apparently, Mr. Herskovic placed cardboard in front of Greenfield’s door and lit it on fire. The small blaze scorched the doorway and singed the doormat, but, luckily, caused no other damage or injuries, according to court papers, as reported by The Real Deal: New York Real Estate News and New York Post.

Following the incident, the arsonist had been released on $3,000 cash bail. He then fled and was sought for nearly a year before surrendering himself to FDNY fire marshals on Monday, October 26.

Herskovic was indicted for over a dozen charges including second-degree arson, a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, for setting fire to cardboard outside Greenfeld’s second-floor apartment.

Prosecutors had requested him to be held on $25,000 bail. Herskovic’s lawyer Israel Fried declined to comment. According to New York Post, Greenfeld and Steinmetz could not be reached at their homes.

Kala Jerzy

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -