Monserrate: Either Moya committed mortgage fraud or he doesn’t actually live in Corona

Rivals are vying for City Council seat

Francisco Moya and Hiram Monserrate
Francisco Moya and Hiram Monserrate

Where does Assemblyman Francisco Moya really live? Political rival Hiram Monserrate would like to know.

Monserrate, who is running against Moya to represent Corona in the City Council, accused his rival of living in a Long Island City condominium that’s outside the district. Moya has claimed on documents that he lives at his father’s house in Corona.

“Who would ever believe that a 43-year-old man would live with mommy and daddy and not in the penthouse suite that he purchased in Long Island City? I’m calling Francisco Moya out for being a fraud and for being a liar,” Monserrate said at a news conference Wednesday, according to the New York Post.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

In a statement, Moya said Monserrate has “conjured up all sort of easily disproven lies” to distract from his failed campaign. “These are just the sad ramblings of a deeply disturbed man with a well-documented history of violence, theft and public corruption.” A spokesman for Moya said Chase Bank bought the mortgage for the Long Island City condo in 2010 and altered the terms so it could be rented out.

Monserrate was found guilty of misdemeanor assault after slashing an ex-girlfriend in 2009. In 2012, he was sentenced to two years in prison for misusing public funds.

Meanwhile, City Council candidates are not required to live in the district where they’re running until Election Day. [NYP]E.B. Solomont