| DA Bragg Talks
Chinatown Murder Sentencing
and Harlem Deed Theft Amid
Makhani on Trial
by
Matthew & Russell Lee, Patreon Substack 1 HOGAN
PLACE,
May 28 – With the deed theft
trial of Joseph Makhani
plodding along in 100 Centre
Street, on May 28 around the
corner at One Hogan Place DA
Alvin Bragg held a press
conference about new deed
theft indictments, and that
morning's sentencing for
murders in Chatham Square in
Chinatown. Inner City Press
was there, live stream here;
question on Makhani from
Minute 6:40.
Bragg announced
the indictment of 18
individuals and three
companies for allegedly
conspiring to steal the deed
to a residential brownstone on
West 131st Street and using
the property as collateral to
fraudulently obtain a mortgage
and construction loan in the
amount $1,636,000. Meanwhile,
Makhani is charged with deed
theft on two Harlem
brownstones dating back to
2012, was before NYS Justice
Michele S. Rodney on October
16, 2025. Inner City Press was
there. Justice
Rodney summoned the lawyers -
including Makhani's lawyer
Susan Necheles - up for what
turned out to be an extremely
long sidebar. Makhani, dressed
in what appeared to be a
leather jacket, remained at
the defense table. When
it was over, Justice Rodney
said there would be another
off-calendar Teams meeting on
October 20, to discuss if the
trial for this 2012 crime can
realistically be held in 2025,
and how. Makhani, a
real estate developer, was not
requested on the October 20
Teams session. But he would be
back in court on October 24. And again - on
trial - on May 18, 2026, when
his lead defense counsel Susan Necheles
was cross examining the
building inspector about DHCR.
Then the prosecution put on
the stand Yolanda Chang, who
interfaced with Makhani as he
put the moves on the building
next to hers on West 118th
Street. He caused damage
with a jackhammer - but will
he be convicted of deed theft? Could be a job
for Chi Osse... The trial
continues. More on DA Bragg,
100 Centre and more on X for
Subscribers here
and Substack here Inner City Press is on the case(s) - watch this site
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Friday, May 29, 2026
DA Bragg Talks Chinatown Murder Sentencing and Harlem Deed Theft Amid Makhani on Trial
