DA’s office fails to get into $1M NYC squatter home as another resident emerges and declares ‘I’m renting’
Investigators from the Queens District Attorney’s Office were turned away at a $1 million Flushing home taken over by squatters Thursday — as another tenant claimed he was duped into subletting.
“I’m not a squatter, I’m renting,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “I paid rent. I’m not a squatter. Everyone in there right now is paying rent. Yes, to the same landlord. It is no good.
“People are taking pictures of us and yelling at us,” he said. “We are all paying rent. Everyone in there is paying rent. I don’t want to live with the squatter.”
He emerged from the house on 160th Street just 20 minutes after two DA investigators repeatedly knocked on the door and tried to get in but were left out in the cold — and finally gave up.
The Post reported Wednesday that another subletter, Kevin Ballasty, acknowledged that he was scammed into paying $1,500 to a squatter identified as “Jay,” with a supposed realtor named David Dubon getting a $1,000 fee for allegedly brokering the deal.
“There’s nothing in my right mind that could lead me to believe there was going to be a problem like this,” Ballasty said. “I was brought in through a real estate. This is a great find, thank you very much. And I love the place, I love the neighborhood. But I guess I paid $3,500 to the landlord, Jay.”
Jay spoke to The Post briefly and claimed he was “scammed” into living in the house, but did not clarify and has not returned repeated calls since. Dubon has also not returned calls.
The bizarre standoff began when Adele Andaloro, whose parents lived in the house until they died, began preparing the house for sale when she discovered the squatters who had taken up residence.
On Feb. 29 she showed up with a local TV crew and changed the locks — but was put in handcuffs by cops and issued a summons for unlawful eviction because the occupants, although unwanted, had established squatter’s rights under New York City law.
Under the law anyone who occupies a property in the Big Apple for at least 30 days can claim squatter’s rights, which means the rightful owner has to work through the courts to kick them out.
Andaloro, who has not responded to phone calls from The Post, told WABC-TV News that she hired a lawyer and is working through the process.
It is unclear why the Queens District Attorney’s Office attempted to get into the house on Thursday.
A spokesperson would only say Thursday that the office doesn’t comment “on ongoing investigations.” Subsequent inquiries were not immediately answered.
