QUEENS, NY - Autumn Valeri, 41, a real estate agent from Commack, New York, was arrested on charges that she and three accomplices stole three high-value homes in Queens in a complex deed fraud conspiracy. Valeri, who markets her business through a prominent Instagram account that features her bedecked in provocative clothing and leopard print boots, is now along with her alleged accomplices facing anywhere from five to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz told The New York Post in a statement that Valeri and her trio of alleged co-conspirators accomplished their scheme by forging signatures and filing false documentation with the City Register’s office in 2023 to illegally usurp ownership of three homes worth over $3 million.
In a post to X, Katz commented, “Property ownership is a fundamental right and my office works to protect that right in this borough. As alleged, the defendants acted in concert to target properties for theft, file false instruments, and ultimately steal homes from the rightful owners.”
As reported by The New York Daily News, a 47-count indictment sworn out by a Grand Jury led to the arrest of Valeri along with Carl Avinger, 42, Lawrence Ray, 38, and Torey Guice, 40. The charges against the four include grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a forged instrument, identity theft and the falsification of business records.
The outlet reported that among the victims of the scheme was the 76-year-old owner of a property in Jamaica Estates. The documentation filed with the New York City Department of Finance included a false signature of a former co-owner, deceased since 2016, and a false notary public signature. Within weeks a similar deed transfer involving the suspects targeted a mother and daughter in Kew Gardens Hills and an 82-year-old woman according to court records.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Stein explained to the court Tuesday, “This is a case where the defendants acted in concert to forge documents, filed false instruments and stole homes from vulnerable victims in Queens County,” per the Post. All four suspects pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors revealed that Valeri and Avinger are in a relationship and have a child together as well. Valeri’s lawyer, Barry Zone told the Daily News, “I know the case is a serious case,” saying of his client that, “She was born and raised on Long Island. She’s a single mother of a 6-month-old. She lives with her mother at home, and the home that she owns, and at this point, it’s just her, her mother and her 6-month-old.”
According to prosecutors Avinger has an extensive criminal history with eleven previous convictions, five felonies, and six misdemeanors and had his parole revoked on four occasions. He is also known to authorities under at least five aliases.
The court ordered Valeri to surrender her passport and granted her supervised release. Avinger was released but is required to wear an electronic monitor. All four suspects are due back in court on April 29.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz told The New York Post in a statement that Valeri and her trio of alleged co-conspirators accomplished their scheme by forging signatures and filing false documentation with the City Register’s office in 2023 to illegally usurp ownership of three homes worth over $3 million.
Property ownership is a fundamental right and my office works to protect that right in this borough.
— Queens DA Katz (@QueensDAKatz) March 21, 2025
As alleged, the defendants acted in concert to target properties for theft, file false instruments and ultimately steal homes from the rightful owners. https://t.co/ci1IJjFxvL
In a post to X, Katz commented, “Property ownership is a fundamental right and my office works to protect that right in this borough. As alleged, the defendants acted in concert to target properties for theft, file false instruments, and ultimately steal homes from the rightful owners.”
As reported by The New York Daily News, a 47-count indictment sworn out by a Grand Jury led to the arrest of Valeri along with Carl Avinger, 42, Lawrence Ray, 38, and Torey Guice, 40. The charges against the four include grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a forged instrument, identity theft and the falsification of business records.
The outlet reported that among the victims of the scheme was the 76-year-old owner of a property in Jamaica Estates. The documentation filed with the New York City Department of Finance included a false signature of a former co-owner, deceased since 2016, and a false notary public signature. Within weeks a similar deed transfer involving the suspects targeted a mother and daughter in Kew Gardens Hills and an 82-year-old woman according to court records.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Stein explained to the court Tuesday, “This is a case where the defendants acted in concert to forge documents, filed false instruments and stole homes from vulnerable victims in Queens County,” per the Post. All four suspects pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors revealed that Valeri and Avinger are in a relationship and have a child together as well. Valeri’s lawyer, Barry Zone told the Daily News, “I know the case is a serious case,” saying of his client that, “She was born and raised on Long Island. She’s a single mother of a 6-month-old. She lives with her mother at home, and the home that she owns, and at this point, it’s just her, her mother and her 6-month-old.”
According to prosecutors Avinger has an extensive criminal history with eleven previous convictions, five felonies, and six misdemeanors and had his parole revoked on four occasions. He is also known to authorities under at least five aliases.
The court ordered Valeri to surrender her passport and granted her supervised release. Avinger was released but is required to wear an electronic monitor. All four suspects are due back in court on April 29.
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Comments
6 days ago | Comment by: James
Hmmm! Usual suspects! NYC is a cesspool!