Two notorious Queens developers pleaded guilty last week to flouting a court order and illegally selling condo units, the attorney general said.
Tommy and Alice Huang were permanently barred from selling co-ops and condos in the state after they cheated Flushing home buyers in 1999.
But on June 19, the Huangs admitted to fraudulently selling 33 units in Elmhurst at the Broadway Tower Condominium.
“This egregious and unscrupulous greed on the part of the Huangs and their blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others must stop,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The controversial builders have been a “scourge” in the borough for more than 20 years, lawmakers said. Their “misconduct” in Queens includes illegal and unsafe construction, environmental crimes and building code violations, Schneiderman said.
Tommy Huang was sentenced to five years’ probation in 1999 for damaging the landmarked interior of RKO Keith’s Theater in Flushing.
He was also denied a variance by Community Board 11 last November to complete the construction of four single-family homes in Bayside.
“Frankly, today’s announcement has been a long time coming and is long overdue,” said State Senator Tony Avella, who called Huang the “poster child” for unscrupulous developers.
Tommy Huang, 59, and Alice Huang, 60, pleaded guilty to securities fraud felonies. The pair must return $4.8 million in illegal profits and penalties to the state and surrender their holdings at the Broadway Tower Condominium, the attorney general said.
They can face up to four years in prison if the debts are not repaid, officials said.
Tommy Huang will be barred from New York construction and real estate industries for at least five years. Both husband and wife remain permanently banned from selling securities in the state.
Their son, Henry Huang, is also prohibited. Schneiderman said he helped his parents circumvent their court order and then covered up their crimes by filing false documents with authorities.
Tommy Huang, who was denied a variance to complete construction on these Bayside homes last year, pleaded guilty to felony charges. (THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan)
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