Fraud Charge Dropped Against Man Who Said He Owned Hotel

Mickey Barreto, a man who claimed ownership of Manhattan's New Yorker Hotel, has been deemed unfit to stand trial, according to prosecutors. Following a recent evaluation, doctors determined Barreto lacks the mental competence to face criminal charges. As a result, a judge has granted him until November 13 to secure inpatient psychiatric care. Barreto, who had lived rent-free at the historic hotel since 2018, had faced 24 charges, including fraud and criminal contempt.

He allegedly forged a deed to claim ownership of the iconic building and attempted to charge rent to tenants and requisition the hotel's bank accounts. Barreto had previously argued that after paying about $200 for a one-night stay at the hotel he had tenant's rights, citing a quirk of the city's housing laws and a key hearing the hotel didn't attend. The New Yorker Hotel, an Art Deco marvel built in 1930, has been a significant cultural landmark, once housing celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Nikola Tesla. It closed as a hotel in 1972, and parts of the building only reopened for guests in 1994. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)