Landlord pleads guilty in $6M Bronx sale
December 11, 2009 03:00PM
Mark Benun was the owner of a real estate firm located at 275 Madison Avenue
A Bronx property owner pleaded guilty today in Manhattan federal court to charges that he fraudulently sold a commercial building for $5.9 million earlier this year, authorities said.
According to prosecutors, Mark Benun, 35, partnered with another company to buy the building at 67-79 East 161st Street in 2006 for $9.5 million.
Benun, who brokered the deal, was given a 25 percent interest in the property, while the other investor, identified in city property records as Lido Realty of Brooklyn, held a 75 percent interest, according to the US Attorney in Manhattan.
Despite his minority interest, Benun sold the property in February 2009 for $5.96 million using forged deed and mortgage documents, prosecutors said.
Following the bogus sale, Benun wired at least $450,000 to other bank accounts, and in addition withdrew about $1.4 million which he used to buy gold bars in Manhattan.
Benun was the owner of a real estate investment firm called MBM1 Owners, located at 275 Madison Avenue.
He pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, and faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $250,000 for each count, as well as forfeiture of the illegal proceeds, at his sentencing scheduled for March 19. TRD
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Comments
Anonymous
poor guy he doesnt deserve this !!!
Comment #1 Posted By: Anonymous 12/11/09
Anonymous
there any many thieves out there. some that we even honor at the end of the day. who are we to judge, mark benun gave a lot of charity he had a good heart.
Comment #2 Posted By: Anonymous 12/13/09
Anonymous
This creep got what he deserved! Gave to charity what he stole from other people!! More will come out about this creep, you have not heard the last about this creep!
Comment #3 Posted By: Anonymous 12/14/09
Anonymous
He should be caged like an animal!
Comment #4 Posted By: Anonymous 12/14/09
Anonymous
#4 do you think hes a creep ??
Comment #5 Posted By: Anonymous 12/14/09
Anonymous
He is a good man with a bad disease.
Comment #6 Posted By: Anonymous 12/14/09
Anonymous
This was not his first conviction. His disease is greed.
Comment #7 Posted By: Anonymous 12/14/09
Anonymous
this man is not a good person... how do i know this? the person who got the 5.96 million stolen was my father, and thank g-d we still have money and hopefully the title insurance is going to pay us what we lost. this guy should rot in prison , and when he gets out, HE IS NOT A GOOD MAN!
Comment #8 Posted By: Anonymous 12/15/09
Anonymous
There are several Mark Benun's. The one who was convicted is Mark M. Benun who is really an obnoxious, greedy, thieving man and is guilty of the crime he confessed to. There is a Mark J. Benun who is definitely involved in charitable works and is, in fact, a very good man.
Comment #9 Posted By: Anonymous 12/15/09
Anonymous
#9 pleeease.
Comment #10 Posted By: Anonymous 12/15/09
Anonymous
mark is a great stand up man
Comment #11 Posted By: Anonymous 12/16/09
Anonymous
#9 must be Mark J...that's a joke.
Comment #12 Posted By: Anonymous 12/18/09
Anonymous
What happened to his accomplices
Comment #13 Posted By: Anonymous 12/19/09
Anonymous
who were the accomplices
Comment #14 Posted By: Anonymous 12/19/09
Anonymous
just because 2 people have the same name doesnt make them the same person. otherwise anyone with the same name as comment 10 would be an idiot too
Comment #15 Posted By: Anonymous 12/23/09
Anonymous
Anonymous#15 I happen to know both Marks, different character traits, but one not better than the other.
Comment #16 Posted By: Anonymous 12/24/09
Anonymous
there both garbage .
Comment #17 Posted By: Anonymous 12/24/09
Anonymous
#17, you are right
Comment #18 Posted By: Anonymous 12/25/09
Anonymous
#8 - im sorry that your father is an absolute moron. please leave his number i have a bridge i would like to sell him. mark is the best . no one tipped doormen or used cash as fire wood like mark did. your fathers money went to a good place.
Comment #19 Posted By: Anonymous 12/26/09
Anonymous
The guy who forked over all of that money is obviously not a sharp person. He thinks a prime propeRty that was bought 3 yrs earlier for 10 mil , he can get for under 6 miL, and without being super cautious? He should stick to his old job, a shoe salesman!
Comment #20 Posted By: Anonymous 12/28/09
Anonymous
He is an lost soul and very sad, very screwed up, the only good intentions he has are for himself or to just intentionly hurt others. He tries sometimes just messed in the head, he needs help and love that he never got as a child
Comment #21 Posted By: Anonymous 12/30/09
Anonymous
number 9 is correct
Comment #22 Posted By: Anonymous 12/31/09
Anonymous
this kid is the con artist of con artists too bad he doesn't use for legitimate puposes.
Comment #23 Posted By: Anonymous 12/31/09
hy haddad
U people are the biggest idiots I have ever seen. Mark personally stole close to 2 million dollars from me and my family. I have six kids kids to feed and I am now in debt. Why hide behind anonymous jerk off? U should get 10 times what he is getting so help me god.
Comment #24 Posted By: hy haddad 01/11/10
Anonymous
you go comment #24 there is no help for a jerk like MARK M BENUN
Comment #25 Posted By: Anonymous 01/12/10
Anonymous
you go comment #24 there is no help for a jerk like MARK M BENUN
Comment #26 Posted By: Anonymous 01/12/10
Anonymous
his accomplices are his close friend (only has one ) and very close family member he is not smart enough to pull this off on his own! They are going down with him!
Comment #27 Posted By: Anonymous 01/12/10
Anonymous
google Mark M. Benun that's him on Facebook! What a joke!!!
Comment #28 Posted By: Anonymous 01/12/10
Anonymous
Mark is not a bad person. I believe he will attempt to fix the wrong he has done, anyone who knows him knows that. Mark was going through a difficult time and abusing perscription drugs. You should pray for Mark.
Comment #29 Posted By: Anonymous 01/13/10
Anonymous
How can you feel bad for a person who knowingly stole money from not ONE person but SEVERAL. You tell me that someone on drugs who does these dirty deeds with family members present! Is the whole family on drugs that allowed him to do this?
Comment #30 Posted By: Anonymous 01/13/10
Anonymous
soloman dweck made him do it
Comment #31 Posted By: Anonymous 01/13/10
Anonymous
who is this man that mark stole from?? how do you know hes a shoe salesman?
Comment #32 Posted By: Anonymous 01/14/10
Anonymous
Comment #32 Are you Mark M brother? Don't you know sarcasim when you hear it?(SHOE SALESMAN) I think Mark may have a building for you for sale? It's call a Jail House.
Comment #33 Posted By: Anonymous 01/15/10
Anonymous
every1 got what they deserve.
Comment #34 Posted By: Anonymous 01/18/10
Anonymous
#24 god already did help u thus u r 2million poorer , good move.
Comment #35 Posted By: Anonymous 01/18/10
Anonymous
comment 24 calls people idiots yet he got conned by a guy who people knew from day 1 was shady!!! i run a 3 card monty game infront of macys 34st stop by and play.
Comment #36 Posted By: Anonymous 01/18/10
Anonymous
Mark is garbage - his father is garbage - he will get beatings in jail weekly - calls are already made - big mouth with nothing to back it up - prison will be living hell for him - it wont be like the first time he went to prison - this is a whole new game!
Comment #37 Posted By: Anonymous 01/25/10
Anonymous
#37 identify yourself
Comment #38 Posted By: Anonymous 01/25/10
Anonymous
You first
Comment #39 Posted By: Anonymous 01/25/10
Anonymous
#40- you obviously know nothing. You are a loser to even wish that on someone.
Comment #40 Posted By: Anonymous 03/28/10
Anonymous
Ask for yourself! and for all that he has done and stolen - and the people he has hurt I wish alot more on him!
Comment #41 Posted By: Anonymous 04/01/10
Anonymous
He is in the retail shoe business , it was meant seriously !
Comment #42 Posted By: Anonymous 05/18/10
Anonymous
Mark is crying everyday in jail - he was assaulted last week by another inmate - there is some justice in the world!
Comment #43 Posted By: Anonymous 06/19/10