Reclaim Safety from a Harassing Squatter Who Endangers Dogs

Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

We are desperately seeking your help to escape a nightmarish situation that has turned our lives upside down and left us feeling unsafe in our own home. What began as a well-intentioned sublease arrangement has escalated into a dangerous scenario involving harassment, privacy violations, and threats to our safety.

In early 2023, we agreed to sublet part of our rent-stabilized Manhattan apartment to Paul, who initially seemed like a trustworthy dog walker. We offered a fair deal that included base rent, a fee for the furnished apartment, and permission to occasionally pet-sit. However, Paul's true nature quickly emerged, revealing a pattern of deception and manipulation we've since learned he's used before.

We've recently discovered that Paul has a history of targeting rent-stabilized apartments, using his background in real estate to exploit tenants and landlords. His previous landlord dispute, which he misrepresented to us, actually resulted in an order of protection against him. This information has been confirmed by local law enforcement, who are aware of Paul's history as a scammer.

Paul's behavior in our apartment has become increasingly erratic and threatening, employing all the intimidation tactics he can:

•⁠ ⁠Withheld rent for months, manipulating the situation to leave us financially burdened

•⁠ ⁠Operated an unauthorized and unsafe dog boarding business, leading to property damage and safety hazards- inclusive of dogs and Jenn being injured

•⁠ Installed a lockbox where he gave multiple people and strangers access to the apartment without our knowledge, including stealing the supers’ keys

•⁠ Opened and read through Cassandra’s mail without her consent

•⁠ ⁠Violated multiple lease terms and ignored cease-and-desist orders

•⁠ ⁠Engaged in relentless online harassment, posting misleading videos and false claims about us, inclusive of falsely stating we have been arrested

•⁠ ⁠Leaked our personal information online, encouraging strangers to harass us, for which we have had strangers try to come to the apartment to harass us

•⁠ ⁠Repeatedly broke into private spaces within the apartment - breaking into Jenn’s room

•⁠ ⁠Filmed neighbors without consent, potentially exposing us to legal action from them

•⁠ ⁠Made false reports to police, causing further stress and potential legal complications

•⁠ ⁠Encouraged his social media followers to attempt forced entry into our home

This situation has left us emotionally devastated and financially strained. We're covering double rent to ensure Paul's non-payment doesn't jeopardize the lease or cause Cassandra to have more legal repercussions. The constant fear, stress, and anxiety have taken a severe toll on our mental health. We no longer feel safe in our own home, with Jenn often staying elsewhere out of fear for her safety or having people, inclusive of Cassandra rotating stay with her.

We've initiated eviction proceedings, but given NYC's tenant-friendly laws, this could take months. More urgently, we need funds for:

1.⁠ ⁠A cease-and-desist order to stop the harassment and defamation

2.⁠ ⁠An order of protection for our immediate safety

3.⁠ ⁠Legal representation to navigate this complex situation and protect our rights

Your support is crucial in helping us reclaim our lives and restore our sense of safety. Any contribution, no matter how small, will go directly toward legal fees to protect us from this dangerous individual who has a history of exploiting housing laws and terrorizing tenants.

Thank you for reading our story and considering our appeal. Your help could literally change our lives and protect us from further harm.

With heartfelt appreciation and hope,

Jenn and Cassandra