New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on June 25 the arrest and indictment of Mark Salkey, 58, of Queens, for stealing the home of Althea Garrick, an elderly woman living in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, while she was receiving dementia care in her home.
An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that between 2022 and 2024, Salkey forged documents to transfer ownership of Garrick’s home to himself and allowed unauthorized people to move into the home, requiring some to pay rent to his company, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office.
In addition to the deed theft, Salkey stole approximately $148,000 from Garrick and approximately $20,000 from her ex-husband’s pension. Salkey was charged with 23 crimes for his deed theft and financial fraud scheme.
“Mark Salkey took advantage of an elderly woman suffering from advanced dementia and stole the home she has owned and lived in for 47 years,” James said in the release. “No one deserves to have their home stolen and their bank account drained. Deed theft is a heartless crime, and my office will do everything in our power to return this home to its rightful owner and hold Mark Salkey accountable for his despicable actions.”
In 2022, Salkey was introduced to Garrick, and between 2022 and 2024, he allegedly used forged documents, including a forged deed, to modify the terms of her mortgage and steal her home and savings. Salkey transferred ownership of the property from Garrick to his company. When the property was stolen in 2023, it was worth approximately $950,000. The property is now worth over $1 million.
In addition to stealing Garrick’s home, Salkey stole approximately $148,000 of her savings by liquidating her bank accounts using forged checks. Salkey wrote personal checks to himself and to his companies and used electronic, internet, or phone payments to distribute money to other accounts in his name.
Salkey was arrested on June 23 and charged with 23 crimes and faces a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.
“The scourge of deed theft is displacing our longtime neighbors, deepening our housing crisis and robbing families of generational wealth,” New York State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-20) said. “The crisis is especially acute in Black and brown communities like those I represent in Central Brooklyn. I'm grateful to Attorney General James for using the laws we passed to prosecute those responsible for their heinous crime and ensure justice is served.”