Brooklyn Couple Stole Millions To Fund Swinger's Club, AG Says

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- A Brooklyn couple stole millions of dollars from New York banks to fund a swinger's club and hunting lodge they said would raise money for children in need, according to state prosecutors.

John Iacono, 46, and Shpresa Gjekovic. 32, stand accused of defrauding more than $1.3 million from state banks to buy an upstate cabin, which they later rented out on AirBNB, promising guests that proceeds would go to charity, the Attorney General's office announced Wednesday.

“These defendants grossly inflated their assets and forged a number of documents in order to defraud multiple New York banks and attempt to steal over a million dollars,” said acting-Attorney General Barbara Underwood.

“We have no tolerance for those who try to defraud New Yorkers in order to line their own pockets.”

Iacono and Gjekovic used fake pay stubs, tax returns and forged cashier checks to apply for multiple loans between April 2016 and March 2017 and $125,000 in counterfeit checks to buy the cabin in Schoharie County, prosecutors said.

The pair were arraigned on grand larceny, residential mortgage fraud and money laundering in Schoharie County Court on Dec. 20 and Dec. 24, following a joint investigation from the Attorney General's office, the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit and the Schoharie County District Attorney's office, said prosecutors.

Iacono was held on a $350,000 bail and Gjekovic on a $150,000 bail bond and ordered to return to court on Jan. 16, said prosecutors.

Iacono and Gjekovic could each face up to 10 to 20 years in state prison if convicted, said prosecutors.

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