A Queens man was arrested June 23 after prosecutors accused him of using forged documents to take control of a 92-year-old Brooklyn woman’s home, move in unauthorized tenants, and drain money from her bank accounts. The allegations highlight ownership, occupancy, and communication issues that can surface during listing intake, especially when a seller is older, represented by a third party, or tied to a complicated title history.
Mark Salkey, 58, was indicted on 23 charges, including grand larceny and forgery. Prosecutors said Salkey used forged documents, including a forged deed, to modify Althea Garrick’s mortgage and transfer ownership of her East Flatbush property to his company while she was receiving dementia care at home.
Garrick bought the home with her then-husband in 1976 and became its sole owner after their 1998 divorce. The property was worth about $950,000 when it was allegedly stolen in 2023 and is now worth more than $1 million. Salkey allegedly collected about $70,000 in rent, stole about $148,000 from Garrick’s savings, and took about $20,000 from pension payments deposited into her accounts. Salkey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Listing intake issues to flag
In listings with unusual ownership or occupancy facts, agents may need to slow down before marketing the property. Recent title transfers, company entities in the ownership chain, undisclosed occupants, or limited access to the owner should prompt a broker or title review.
Agents are not title examiners, attorneys, capacity experts, or fraud investigators. They should not determine whether a deed is valid or whether a seller has legal capacity. Their role is to flag inconsistencies, document what they observe, and involve the broker, title company, or seller’s attorney.
In the Brooklyn case, prosecutors said tenants were moved in while Garrick and her ex-husband were left living in a small bedroom in the home. If the person requesting a listing does not match the owner of record, a deed transfer is unexplained, or occupancy details do not line up, the safer next step is to pause and escalate.
Why New York is watching deed theft
State guidance defines deed theft as taking title to a home without the owner’s knowledge or approval through forgery or deception. Higher-risk properties include vacant homes, homes in foreclosure, properties with tax or utility liens, and homes where an owner has died but heirs have not legally transferred title.
The same guidance says scammers target seniors, immigrants, and people of color. New York’s 2024 criminal reforms made deed theft a form of grand larceny, extended the statute of limitations, and gave the attorney general’s office concurrent original jurisdiction to prosecute deed theft crimes alongside district attorneys statewide.
Four checks before you list
Although the allegations come from New York, the listing risks are not limited to one state. Senior-owned homes, inherited properties, vacant homes, distressed properties, and third-party representatives can create ownership and authority questions in any market.
First, confirm that the signer matches the owner of record or can provide documentation showing authority to act. If a representative is involved, follow brokerage policy for reviewing documents such as a power of attorney, trust paperwork, guardianship order, estate documents, or corporate authorization.
Second, check public property records or request an early title review before marketing the home. Look for recent deed transfers, entity ownership, unexplained liens, mortgage changes, or names that do not match the seller’s explanation.
Third, verify occupancy by asking who lives in the property, whether any occupants are tenants, and whether written leases exist. Finally, watch for communication control, including whether one person is routing all communication, limiting direct access to the owner, or pressuring the agent to skip standard documentation.
When to pause
When ownership, authority, occupancy, or communication details do not line up, agents should document the concern, notify their broker, and direct the seller to legal or title professionals before proceeding.
In New York City, homeowners can sign up for property and deed alerts and review recorded documents through ACRIS. Agents outside New York should refer sellers to a local real estate attorney, title professional, or state consumer protection office when ownership or authority questions are unresolved.
New Yorkers can report suspected deed theft to the attorney general’s office at deedtheft@ag.ny.gov or 1-800-771-7755, or contact the Homeowner Protection Program at 855-466-3456.