Park Slope elderly man faces eviction, demands investigation into deed theft
Ray Cortez, 90, said he is a victim of deed theft and is now fighting an eviction to stay in his home on St. Marks Place, where he has lived for 56 years.
Community members and elected leaders rallied in Park Slope to keep an elderly man inside his home as he faces eviction.
Ray Cortez, 90, said he is a victim of deed theft and is now fighting an eviction to stay in his home on St. Marks Place, where he has lived for 56 years.
As News 12 previously reported, Cortez said a man scammed him out of his deed in 2006 by taking out a mortgage on his home.
His property has since been foreclosed and auctioned off.
"I don't feel good, I am so worried," Cortez said.
This Friday, he is set to be back in housing court fighting an eviction the new property owner is seeking.
"The time that has gone by since that happened, that time has complicated even worse," said his son Ray Cortez Jr.
A new deed theft law that went into effect over the summer, criminalized deed theft and extended the statute of limitations to prosecute cases.
News 12 reached out to the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office and a spokesperson sent the following statement:
"Mr. Cortez is a cherished member of his community, and we sincerely hope he can remain in his home through the ongoing Housing Court proceedings. When our office first received a complaint about this matter in 2019, the statute of limitations had regrettably expired over five years prior. Despite this, we conducted thorough investigations both in 2019 and again in 2022, striving to find any means to assist Mr. Cortez. Unfortunately, even if we had uncovered evidence of a crime, legal constraints prevent us from taking action due to the lapsed statute of limitations."
Expanding the statute of limitations could be done through legislation but that takes time.
"That is not a timely enough possibility to address the particulars here," said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon.
The Attorney General's Office said they are in contact with Cortez's attorney.
If you believe you have been a victim of deed theft you can file a complaint form with the AG'S office by clicking here or you can email deedtheft@ag.ny.gov.
