84-Year-Old Woman's Brooklyn Home Stolen By Next Door Neighbor Who Forged Deed, DA Says

EAST FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn man forged the deed to the home of an old lady who lived next door so he could steal it while she was away, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.

Winston "Sage El" Gregory Hall, 36, lives on East 49th Street, between Linden Boulevard and Church Avenue in East Flatbush, according to the D.A.'s office. He made up several documents so he could steal the three-family home next door, owned by a 84-year-old woman who lives in New Jersey, the D.A.'s office said.

"This defendant allegedly exploited his elderly neighbor’s absence to brazenly steal her house," Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. "As Brooklyn’s real estate values continue to rise, I remain vigilant in my commitment to protect homeowners across the borough, particularly vulnerable seniors, who are all too often the target of unscrupulous individuals."

In April of 2015, Hall created a trust, then executed a fake deed to transfer the property into his name, according to the acting D.A. A month later, the "deed," along with fake tax documents, were filed with the New York City Register’s Office, according to the D.A. Finally, the deed recorded with the New York City Department of Finance with the home being valued at about $445,000, according to Gonzalez.

The victim told prosecutors that she does not know Hall and did not intend to transfer her home to him, the D.A.'s office said.

Hall's charges include grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument, according to the D.A.'s office. He has been released with no bail and is due back in court in October. He faces 15 years in prison.

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