A squatter who attempted to use a Shake Shack receipt as evidence of legal rights to a house in Queens has been indicted on charges including burglary and identity theft, according to prosecutors. Lance White-Hunt, a 24-year-old resident of Brooklyn, went to extreme lengths by suing the actual homeowners, Denis Kurlyand and Juliya Fulman, in an effort to solidify his claim to the $930,000 property on Lakewood Avenue. However, his plan has backfired, resulting in an 18-count indictment that could potentially lead to a 15-year prison sentence if he is convicted.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office has emphasized that claiming rights to a home that has been entered illegally is not permissible. District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “My office will not allow individuals to capitalize on the confusion surrounding squatters’ rights for their own personal gain. We will bring criminal charges and secure indictments not only for the unlawful occupancy but also for any forged documents used in the commission of the crime. The law does not permit illegal residency, and we will continue to prosecute such cases in Queens.”
White-Hunt is facing charges that include second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree identity theft, and attempted grand larceny, among others. He is scheduled to appear in Queens Supreme Court on June 11.
White-Hunt and his accomplice, Rondie L. Francis, gained attention in early April when they filed a dubious lawsuit, which has since been dismissed by a judge. As part of their legal action, they submitted various pieces of evidence, including an application approval letter, a rental lease, mail addressed to them, and a Shake Shack receipt for $25.27, which they claimed proved they had food delivered to the house months prior.
In New York City, squatters can claim legal rights to a property after just 30 days of occupancy, making it challenging for owners to evict them. However, squatters must have a reasonable basis for claiming the property and must treat it as if they were the owner, such as performing maintenance or repairs. Property owners are required to send a 10-day eviction notice and file a court complaint if the squatter refuses to leave. If approved by a judge, the owner can obtain a summons and have law enforcement remove the squatter.
The law was initially designed to protect long-term tenants from eviction and address the issue of vacant and abandoned buildings in New York City. Property owners are advised to avoid leaving properties vacant for extended periods, ensure proper security measures are in place, and promptly notify the police if squatters are discovered before they establish legal rights.
The documents presented by White-Hunt and Francis were later determined to be fraudulent by the actual homeowners. Denis Kurlyand stated that everything presented by the squatters was fake, with Juliya Fulman adding that the documents were clearly photoshopped.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the real estate broker representing the homeowners noticed the locks had been changed during a routine visit to the property in February 2024. She then encountered White-Hunt inside and promptly contacted the police. White-Hunt claimed to have been living there since January and provided the officers with a rental lease allegedly signed by the broker. However, the broker confirmed that she had never seen the document and that the signature was forged. White-Hunt also presented phone and electric bills as proof of residence, which were later confirmed to be fake by the respective companies.
In addition to the indictment, White-Hunt had previously sued the homeowner’s LLC and the broker. However, the court discovered that the lease he presented during the lawsuit differed from the one he provided to the police.
1 Response
This is absolutely disgusting! How dare this squatter think they can use a Shake Shack receipt as evidence to claim someone else’s property as their own? It’s outrageous and shows a complete disregard for the law and the rights of others. Burglary and identity theft are serious crimes, and this individual should face the full extent of the law for their actions. It’s infuriating to see people trying to take advantage of the system and manipulate it for their own selfish gain. This kind of behavior should