Brothers charged with fraudulent home sale

Two brothers have been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in home equity after allegedly selling the home of a retired New York City correction officer suffering from dementia, the Queens District Attorney said. Joel Brach, a 27-year-old broker at Home Engergizer, in Hollis, is believed to have fled to Israel, the D.A. said. His brother, Moses Brach, 30, is in custody. According to the charges, the Brachs bought the Cambria Heights home from 71-year-old Hoesey Walker for $440,000 and then deposited $217,000 in equity proceeds in a joint banking account. The men face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Moses Brach is being held on $25,000 bail and was forced to surrender his passport. TRD