Joseph Chetrit Indicted in Criminal Tenant Harassment Case

Joseph Chetrit, one of New York’s biggest dealmakers, was indicted Wednesday on felony charges of tenant harassment.

He joins his brother Meyer Chetrit, who was indicted last month, as a codefendant in the case. The district attorney has accused the Chetrits of harassing two septuagenarian tenants in a Chelsea loft building. He pleaded not guilty.

Joseph is now one of the biggest names in the New York real estate industry to face criminal charges. The indictment underscores the Manhattan district attorney’s focus on prosecuting housing and real estate-related crimes.

The Chetrits allegedly left the two senior tenants at 111-117 West 26th Street without heat and without an elevator at different points during their tenancy, in the hopes of getting them to vacate the apartment. The tenants are in a rent-stabilized unit overseen by the city’s Loft Board, which grants them special legal protections from harassment and rent increases.

Both Chetrits have been charged with two counts of harassment of a rent-regulated tenant, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

“I don’t even think you can find caselaw on these charges. It’s an overextension of a law that’s on the books,” said Steven Metcalf, an attorney for Joseph. “It’s targeted to Joe because of who he is.”

“I’m confident and I know that Joe is going to zealously defend against these charges,” Metcalf added.

Jeffrey Chartier, a defense attorney for Meyer, in September cast doubt on the facts of the case and said his client denies the allegations.

“Rather than prosecute violent criminals that are plaguing the city, Bragg has again chosen to misapply the law in pursuit of a progressive political agenda,” he said.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, told The Real Deal earlier this month that he hoped the real estate industry would be supportive of his efforts to target housing-related crimes.

“For folks who are following the law, this evens the playing field,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Jocelyn Stauber, head of the city’s department of investigation, said she hopes the Chetrit indictment is a deterrent to other landlords.

“We suspect there’s more conduct like this out there, which we will be looking for,” Strauber told TRD in September.

Joseph immigrated from Morocco to New York at 17 and worked in the family textile import-export business before pivoting to real estate in the 1990s. The family began making big deals, becoming known for moving quickly, favoring cash sales and an untraditional style.

Joseph is about 67 and Meyer is about 61.