Episode

How an Alleged NYC Real Estate Scammer Stayed in Business Despite Years of Complaints

Podcast: NYC NOW
Published: Jun 17, 2026
Duration seconds: 2399
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Canonical source: https://wnyc.org/browse/shows/nyc-now
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Summary

Finding an affordable apartment in New York City is hard enough. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Catalina Gonella spent months investigating allegations against David Michael, a man who describes himself as a real estate adviser. Dozens of renters say he took deposits for apartments they never got, then disappeared when they tried to get their money back. She explains how the alleged scheme worked and why small claims court offered little relief. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.