'Wolf of Airbnb' who masterminded illegal million-dollar subletting scheme learns his fate as bombshell text reveals how he planned to 'rape every single landlord in NYC'

The self-proclaimed 'Wolf of Airbnb' who masterminded an forbidden million-dollar subletting strategy learned his destiny successful Manhattan national tribunal connected Monday, arsenic bombshell texts uncover really he planned to 'rape each azygous landlord successful NYC.'

Prosecutors person said Konrad Bircher, 32, of Hialeah, Florida, defrauded some New York City landlords and a national pandemic-relief authorities program arsenic he raked successful much than $1.1million from his forbidden 'mini hotels' from July 2019 done April 2022.

He exploited nan COVID-era tenant protections to forestall landlords from evicting him, while he rented retired their properties, tribunal documents say. 

At nan aforesaid time, he collected much than $565,000 from nan national government's Payment Protection Program, a pandemic-era alleviation programme designed to thief mini businesses.

Bircher will now walk 4 years and 3 months down bars and different 3 years of supervised merchandise for nan scheme, a national judge ruled connected Monday.

He had been connected nan hook for arsenic galore arsenic 20 years successful prison, but he pleaded blameworthy past twelvemonth to a ligament fraud charge, Bloomberg reports.

Bircher was besides ordered to forfeit $1.7 cardinal and salary different $2.2 cardinal successful restitution. 

Prosecutors had pushed for nan reliable sentence, arguing he operated astatine slightest 18 Manhattan apartments arsenic alleged 'mini-hotels' while utilizing nan pandemic arsenic an excuse not to salary landlords much than $ 1million successful rent.

They pointed to texts Bircher had sent to friends and colleagues astir nan strategy - including 1 connected April 20, 2020 successful which he wrote: 'Now bro, I will go evil,' according to nan sentencing submission.

He added successful different matter that he would 'rape each azygous landlord successful NYC.' and successful a third, he wrote that 'every landlord now is gonna beryllium f***eddddd.'

Among nan buildings Bircher utilized for short-term Airbnb stays was nan MiMa building, connected 450 West 42nd Street, wherever properties waste for betwixt $1.5 and $6.5million - and costs betwixt $4,000 to $10,000 to rent per month.

But Bircher would rent retired nan apartments for $97 an hr - against a New York City rule that makes it forbidden to rent retired an full flat for little than 30 days without nan proprietor aliases regular tenant being present.

Prosecutors said his 'modus operandi is to participate into leases for Manhattan residential apartments or, arsenic here, worm his measurement into occupancy, and tally a type of 'bust-out' operation.' 

'That includes renting nan flat retired arsenic a profit halfway done Airbnb, Peerspace and different akin platforms for short-term rentals, failing to salary rent, utilizing nan pandemic and laws related thereto to hold immoderate proceedings, and to vacate connected nan constituent of eviction.' 

He would garbage to vacate nan rental properties moreover aft his lease expired - moreover though he was really surviving successful Florida astatine nan time, according to prosecutors.

Meanwhile, he would flaunt his newfound wealthiness connected societal media, sharing photos of him enjoying backstage pitchy rides and lavish vacations.

He besides started bragging to his friends that he was nan 'Wolf of Airbnb' - an homage to Jordan Belfort, who was known arsenic nan 'Wolf of Wall Street.' 

In a text to The Real Deal, Bircher addressed giving himself nan dubious nickname, saying: 'The Wolf of Airbnb: It intends personification who is quiet and ruthless capable to get connected apical of nan financial ladder. They comparison nan ferocity to that of a wolf, because wolves are territorial, vicious and show nary mercy erstwhile provoked.' 

'The suspect sees this arsenic an opportunity to conscionable enrich himself,' Assistant US Attorney Matthew Weinberg based on successful tribunal connected Monday.

'It is profoundly offensive.'

Prosecutors besides noted that Bircher fought lawsuits from landlords by falsely claiming he was suffering from COVID-related hardships and by lying astir his residency.

He moreover had 2 anterior convictions, including a 2015 bust for impersonating a landlord to get paid for rent he was not entitled to collect, according to nan New York Post. 

But his attorneys had based on for leniency, blaming landlords for immoderate of nan Manhattan flat troubles.

They based on that galore of nan landlords knew what he was doing, but sought him retired anyhow erstwhile they had problem uncovering tenants during nan pandemic.

The defense besides mentioned that Bircher has a six-month-old girl and stay-at-home wife.

Following nan sentencing, US Attorney Damian Williams noted Bircher enjoyed nan 'wolf' moniker.

'But arsenic today's condemnation underscores, those who partake successful specified callous and fraudulent behaviour will reply for their crimes, nary matter their self-given title.'