.png)
7 months ago
41
A Long Island squatter holed up inside a $2 million house refuses to clear out unless he's paid $140,000 and is considering a possible trial.
Brett Flores, 32, a former model and caregiver, appeared in Queens Housing Court Thursday morning with his attorneys, who stated that homeowners Susana and Joseph Landa agreed to pay $140,000 for him to leave.
'He needs the money to procure adequate housing for his family, and once he gets that money, there's nothing more he wants to do there,' attorney Anthony Gentile told ABC7 outside the courtroom Thursday.
Flores moved to New York City from Los Angeles in 2019 to work as a caretaker for ailing watch executive Bernard Fernandez at his home in Douglaston, Queens.
The Landas bought the home in October but have not been able to move in, as Flores claims the mansion's former owner, Fernandez, left the property to him when he died.
Brett Flores, 32, a former model and caregiver, appeared in Queens Housing Court Thursday morning with his attorneys, who stated that homeowners Susana and Joseph Landa agreed to pay $140,000 for him to leave
Brett Flores, seen here, moved to New York City from Los Angeles in 2019 to work as a caretaker for ailing watch executive Bernard Fernandez
The Landas bought the home in October but have not been able to move in, as Flores claims the mansion's former owner, Fernandez, left the property to him when he died
The man added that initially the relationship with Flores had worked well, saying that he first seemed like a good fit
Susana said: 'No agreement, no lease, nothing. He is just technically an ex-employee, he worked for the guy that passed away, that's it.'
'I wake up and I go to sleep about the same thing, when is this guy going to come out,' she added.
A new judge was assigned to the case on Thursday, with Flores adding another attorney to his team while the couple remains embroiled in the months-long eviction struggle.
Flores, who allegedly wore luxurious watches belonging to Fernandez while attending parties in New York, filed for bankruptcy and showed up for hearings without an attorney, all of which delayed the court process.
After months of court delays, the Landas offered Flores some money, but Flores refused and asked for more, the couple said.
‘We were ready to cough it up, but when we saw his record and met with someone that gave us a brief of his past deeds, we started to get really scared,' Susana said.
Susana added: ‘The money’s on the table. We’ve offered the money with our attorney in court in front of a judge, and he said "not enough".
'He needs the money to procure adequate housing for his family, and once he gets that money, there's nothing more he wants to do there,' attorney Anthony Gentile told ABC7 outside the courtroom Thursday
Flores is seen here alongside his wife Elena Crociani. Flores has been running up huge bills and even caused a sewage flood at the property, according to the couple
‘So, money’s there, which is fine - painful, and I know what we’re going to be faced with, which will be a house totally torn apart.’
Meanwhile, Flores has been running up huge bills and even caused a sewage flood at the property, which they bought to live in with their disabled son, the couple said.
The couple told Fox News, Flores had flooded the backyard by allowing a cesspool to get clogged on the property, which resulted in them being forced to rip up a porch and much of the property's landscaping.
‘He really knows the system and how to get by it on his own without an attorney, and living rent-free, renting out rooms, drawing income, vandalizing.,' Joseph Landa told the outlet.
The Landas say they bought the home in Long Island as their family knew the neighborhood well and had relatives that lived in the area that could help their disabled son Alex if something happened to them.
Amid the court battle, the Landas home has fallen into disrepair, as exclusive DailyMail.com images from last month showed.
Splattered white paint has been left on several doors, windows and even security cameras.
When DailyMail.com visited the property, almost every light was on in the home - the lights in the living room, basement, garage and upstairs area.
A camera - not one of the cameras from the new owners - appeared to be placed in an upstairs bedroom.
During the night, there was still no sign of the squatter, or his SUV BMW with out-of-town license plates.
After months of court delays, the Landas offered Flores some money, but Flores refused and asked for more, the couple said.
Chipped paint and multiple cameras are seen attached to the exterior of the home. Ten surveillance cameras monitor the property, but it's unclear who placed them there
They claim he has allowed the mansion to fall into disrepair as evidenced in DailyMail.com photos
A note purportedly left by Flores on the door of the home told the new owners they 'don't have my consent to enter,' and said their attempts to contact him would be 'interpreted as harassment'
A note purportedly left by Flores on the door of the home told the new owners they 'don't have my consent to enter', and said their attempts to contact him would be 'interpreted as harassment.'
While the home has fallen into disrepair as the Landas still can't move in, the Landas also claim Flores was advertising rooms in their home-to-be on rental sites.
In the online listings, which appear to have been deleted, Flores advertised 'The Prince Room' for $50 a night to males, female, couples, families or students looking for a place to stay.
Attorney Dennis O’ Sullivan, who represents Flores, said: ‘There's definitely more to it... the buyers are not the victims they claim to be.‘
On Saturday, O’ Sullivan also said that Flores has a newborn child who is suffering from a lung disease. It remains unclear if the child is living inside the home with him.
English (US)