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HARTSDALE---A disbarred attorney has been charged with second degree grand larceny for allegedly defrauding a bank in regard to a real estate transaction.
Rafael Pantoja, 47, of Hartsale, also held himself out to be an attorney during the transaction when in fact he was disbarred in 1996.
Prosecutors said that between July 21, 2004 and Aug. 20, 2004, the defendant was engaged in negotiations which lead to the sale of his house located on Richard Terrace in Hartsdale. During the course of negotiating the sale of the property for $799,000, Pantoja falsely advised the prospective buyers and the title company that there were no liens or mortgages recorded or unrecorded against the premises.
Pantoja had in fact obtained a bank line of credit on Jan. 25, 2004 upon which the Richard Terrace property was used as collateral. He owed in excess of $250,000 at the time of the sale on Aug. 20, 2004, with the result that he allegedly stole in excess of $250,000 from the buyers.
Pantoja has been remanded to the Westchester County Jail. 9-21-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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