Developer trio pleads guilty in 421a fraud cases

Three developers indicted more than three years ago on criminal charges connected to the 421a tax abatement program pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Mendel Gold, Joel Kohn and Alen Paknoush pleaded guilty to filing a false instrument, Crain’s reported, meaning knowingly giving an inaccurate document to the government. They were initially charged with grand larceny and tax fraud as well, along with three other developers. Each of the Brooklyn players was accused by District Attorney Alvin Bragg of charging at least $1,000 more in rent for units built under 421a, which carried approved affordable housing rates. Gold allegedly defrauded the […] This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story.