An East Harlem landlord is facing charges for allegedly trying to force rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartment.
Landlord Ephram Vashovsky is accused of creating hazardous living conditions at 21 East 115th Street to coerce a family of seven to move out.
He's facing 20 criminal charges, including reckless endangerment, coercion and unlawful eviction.
Prosecutors say he enlisted the help of his property manager and another contractor.
The Manhattan DA's office says the men removed walls, shut off the water and heat, and began a campaign to harass the tenants.
"A man only known to the family as Shaun showed up at their apartment, often late at night. He would bang on their door, telling them in substance that he represented the building's owners and that the building's owners wanted them out. Knowing that the tenants were undocumented immigrants from Mexico, he threatened to call immigration authorities and told them that they should leave the apartment in 'the easy way as opposed to the hard way,'" said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
Officials say the Department of Buildings ordered the building vacated in March 2015 because of the dangerous conditions.