District Attorney: Hewlett property owners fleeced of more than $327,000

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A New York City property manager was indicted on March 24 for the alleged theft of more than $327,000 from the owners of a commercial shopping mall in Hewlett.

Leon Austern, 69, is accused of pocketing rent and taxes paid by commercial
Tenants. He was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice William Donnino and is charged with grand larceny-second degree. Austern was conditionally released to probation. His next court date is April 28. If convicted of the top count the defendant faces five to 15 years in prison.

“This defendant was trusted to handle his employer's accounts but instead he allegedly executed a calculated scheme to steal money and use it for personal expenses,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a media release.

Austern was the manager of a strip mall shopping center with five commercial tenants owned by Harbro Realty Co., LLC. For his services he was entitled to receive 3.5 percent of the gross rents collected from its tenants, Singas said.

From May 3, 2010, to Dec. 18, 2012, Austern allegedly embezzled a net amount of $327,273.80 from Harbro by diverting checks drawn by their tenants for rent and taxes to two bank accounts that he created in the name of Harbro The accounts were opened secretly without the permission of the corporation, according to the district attorney’s office.

He allegedly spent the stolen money to pay for personal expenses including loan payments, insurance, legal fees, investments, restaurants, health related products, food, beverages, gasoline, household appliances, pool maintenance, utilities and storage fees.