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It took 90 minutes for Daily News to 'steal' the Empire State Building
Daily News ^ | Dec 3, 2008 | BY WILLIAM SHERMAN

Posted on 12/03/2008 12:12:17 PM PST by Islander7

In one of the biggest heists in American history, the Daily News "stole" the $2 billion Empire State Building.

And it wasn't that hard.

The News swiped the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper by drawing up a batch of bogus documents, making a fake notary stamp and filing paperwork with the city to transfer the deed to the property.

Some of the information was laughable: Original "King Kong" star Fay Wray is listed as a witness and the notary shared a name with bank robber Willie Sutton.

The massive ripoff illustrates a gaping loophole in the city's system for recording deeds, mortgages and other transactions.

The loophole: The system - run by the office of the city register - doesn't require clerks to verify the information.

Less than 90 minutes after the bogus documents were submitted on Monday, the agency rubber-stamped the transfer from Empire State Land Associates to Nelots Properties LLC. Nelots is "stolen" spelled backward. (The News returned the property Tuesday.)

(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: corruption; crime; cultureofcorruption; democratscandals; empirestatebuilding; government; incompetence
"Crooks go where the money is. That's why Willie Sutton robbed banks, and this is the new bank robbery," said Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Richard Farrell, who is prosecuting several deed fraud cases.
1 posted on 12/03/2008 12:12:17 PM PST by Islander7
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To: Islander7

I’ve dealt with NYC bureaucrats. If you required those people to verify the information they’re dealing with, you’d be waiting in line for six months, instead of 2 hours.


2 posted on 12/03/2008 12:14:02 PM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: Islander7

I’m shocked, shocked I say that you’ve found incompetence in a government bureaucracy!


3 posted on 12/03/2008 12:16:07 PM PST by griswold3
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To: Islander7

Why can’t it take 90 minutes to get Obama’s birth certificate?


4 posted on 12/03/2008 12:16:14 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: Islander7
The recorders are right to file what is presented . Every document they deal with is sworn to just like an affidavit . This is not a situation to be solved by more government interference . I do not want to have to litigate every notice of interest and mechanic lien I file at the recorders desk . If I slander or wrongly cloud a title there are already plenty of remedies .
5 posted on 12/03/2008 12:21:12 PM PST by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know F/8 Cav)
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To: Islander7
Just another example of how Jack killed the Giant.

The bigger Goober Mint gets, the easier he is to take down.

Some smarts, desire, and brass marbles help also.

6 posted on 12/03/2008 12:21:36 PM PST by G.Mason (Duty, Honor, Country)
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To: Islander7

More proof of why Upstate needs its own state.


7 posted on 12/03/2008 12:22:43 PM PST by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
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To: mewzilla

They should send the Daily News a property tax bill on a $2B property.


8 posted on 12/03/2008 12:36:53 PM PST by JMS
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To: Islander7

Barack 0bama could employ the Daily News to work on his next forgery.


9 posted on 12/03/2008 12:43:55 PM PST by Pablo Mac
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To: JMS

>They should send the Daily News a property tax bill on a $2B property.

LOL - I like that idea.


10 posted on 12/03/2008 12:57:25 PM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: Islander7
so i assume they will be prosecuting the Daily News for forgery, fraud, etc...

seems to me that forging a notary public and filing false gov't documents would be no small crime.

11 posted on 12/03/2008 1:01:09 PM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: LdSentinal

Barack Obama was more successful in getting Jack Ryan’s divorce papers released.


12 posted on 12/03/2008 1:42:29 PM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
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To: thefactor

Journalists live in an ivory tower. They believe themselves to be above all laws. ALL laws.


13 posted on 12/03/2008 1:43:02 PM PST by weegee (Sec. of State Clinton. What kind of change is it to keep the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton Oligarchy?)
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To: Islander7

A system, based largely on trust, is exploitable? I’m shocked!


14 posted on 12/03/2008 1:44:15 PM PST by CE2949BB (Fight.)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
Less than 90 minutes after the bogus documents were submitted on Monday, the agency rubber-stamped the transfer from Empire State Land Associates to Nelots Properties LLC. Nelots is "stolen" spelled backward. (The News returned the property Tuesday.)
Uh, I've gotta catch a plane...
15 posted on 12/06/2008 2:35:55 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, December 6, 2008 !!!)
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To: Iowan; Calpernia

This story should remind you of something:

“The massive ripoff illustrates a gaping loophole in the city’s system for recording deeds, mortgages and other transactions.

The loophole: The system - run by the office of the city register - doesn’t require clerks to verify the information.”


16 posted on 12/06/2008 5:21:21 PM PST by Fred Nerks (FAIR DINKUM)
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To: Fred Nerks

Thanks, FredNerks

Very interesting.

Ping.


17 posted on 12/06/2008 5:54:48 PM PST by Iowan
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