Discover video-sourced quotes by politicians

Letitia James: “Earlier this week, my office charged two thieves who…”

Featuring: Letitia James, Democratic | Attorney General of New York

NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation

Published August 7, 2025 | Video Starts at 02:13

… and with the support of Senator Kavanaugh, who is the chair of the housing committee in the state Senate and all of the individuals who are with me here today. Earlier this week, my office charged two thieves who collaborated to rob a Queen's woman of her home. Our office found that Deepa Roy and Victor Quimmes worked together to manipulate Renuka Renuka Berwani, a vulnerable resident of Kew Gardens Hills who has been receiving end of Life Hospice Care. (02:13–02:21)

CLAIM

Asserts that the Attorney General's office charged two individuals with robbing a woman's home.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

Discover more from

Letitia James

“We are experiencing a housing crisis [in New York City and all throughout the state of New York].”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 00:37-00:44
“We are witnessing a disturbing rise in the number of housing scams.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 00:46-00:52
“Deed theft is heartless. It is a merciless crime and it steals individuals' homes without their knowledge.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 01:07-01:16
“Roy and Quimmet allegedly forged a deed with Mrs. Barwani's signature transferring ownership of her home to themselves for free.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 03:17-03:30
“The deed was notarized with a forged signature from a Nassau county notary.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 03:30-03:37
“Victor Quimmes took out a $552,000 mortgage on the property.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 03:30-03:53
“They later forged additional documents transferring ownership of the home to an LLC.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 03:37-03:44
“After paying off the mortgage, Mr. Quimmet stole over $300,000 that was remaining.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 03:52-04:00
“Earlier this week, my office arrested Victor Quimmes and charged him with multiple felonies for his role in the scheme.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 04:04-04:12
“Deeper Roy remains at large and there is a warrant out for his arrest.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 04:12-04:19
“The deed theft legislation that my office worked to pass through the legislature basically establishes deed theft as a crime.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 04:25-04:34
“A similar law passed recently which will allow us to return the home to the Bhrawani family after we convict Deeper Roy and Victor Quimmes.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 04:37-04:47
“The Office of the Attorney General runs a special deed theft tip line where New Yorkers can file complaints.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 04:57-05:05
“We have also established a homeowner protection program, otherwise known as hop.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 05:21-05:27
“My office regularly holds deed theft education and prevention workshops in communities all throughout the state.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 05:36-05:43
“I personally, along with over 200 volunteers, we've canvassed parts of Brooklyn, again educating homeowners about deed theft.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 05:43-05:54
“The individuals are facing the possibility of from 8 to 25 years in jail.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 22:48-22:54
“The charges are as follows. They include grand larceny, residential mortgage fraud, money laundering, criminal possession of a forged…”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 22:54-23:09
“We are confident that we will be able to arrest the individual who is on the run.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 23:08-23:16
“This became a crisis, particularly in gentrifying communities where individuals are cash poor and equity rich.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 23:28-23:37
“The city council with regards to their lien sale, that also elevated and increased the number of individuals who are preying upon vulnerable…”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 23:39-23:49
“This legislation allows my office to prosecute individuals for the crime of deed theft.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 24:10-24:18
“This is the first case that we have prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the office of the Attorney General.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 25:26-25:34
“In Brooklyn, we focused on central Brooklyn, East Flatbush, Canarsie. Those are the communities where we have received a significant number…”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 27:05-27:15
“We are also seeing, we also have received complaints from individuals in Buffalo, in Syracuse, and even in upstate New York.”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 29:13-29:21
“We are also seeing affinity groups where individuals show up and say, you know, they remind them of their daughter or their son and they…”
NY AG Letitia James Gives Updates On Queens Deed Theft Investigation | Uploaded August 7, 2025 | 29:20-29:37