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Landlord Wanted To Burn Property Down While Squatters Still Inside, Arrested


November 3, 2014 | Rhett Jones

Squatter’s rights are a murky issue in New York but there’s one thing pretty much anyone can agree on, they have the right to not be burned to death in their sleep. According to Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson, that’s exactly what one Bed-Stuy landlord was conspiring to do to the two illegal tenants in his building.

Lalbahadour Byjoo, 50, owns a home at 304-A Sumpter Street, where two squatters had taken up residence. He’s accused of hiring Jean St. Fleur, 30, to burn the house down as well as conspiring to obtain two other properties illegally with forged documents.

In a incomprehensibly stupid move, Byjoo met with an undercover agent, told him how to avoid security camera detection, gave him $100 for gasoline expenses, and said he “liked his steak well done.” Days later, they met again and Byjoo bluntly instructed the agent to “torch” the building.

Among the many charges brought against the extremely screwed-up duo are conspiracy, identity theft and criminal impersonation. All told, they face a maximum of 15 years in prison. Not to mention a place on the worst landlords in the city watch list.

(Photo: Google Maps)