A former New York Police Department (NYPD) detective has been arrested alongside two others in connection with a deed theft scheme involving a Bronx property worth $340,000.
Chenenne Guevarra-Francis, a retired NYPD detective, allegedly conspired with his mother, Barbara Guevarra-Francis, a retired nurse, and attorney Merrick Dammar to steal a 50% stake in a home owned by Chenenne’s late sister, Charmein Guevarra-Samuel.
On the day of Guevarra-Samuel’s death in July 2020, Dammar is accused of preparing and notarizing a forged deed and other fraudulent documents to illegally transfer the ownership interest away from her husband, who was entitled to inherit it.
The scheme came to light when Guevarra-Samuel’s husband applied for letters of administration to manage her estate. In May 2023, Chenenne attempted to evict his brother-in-law, but the action was blocked by the New York Attorney General’s Office.
The three defendants now face serious charges, including:
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class C felony)
Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree (Class C felony)
Forgery in the Second Degree (Class D felony)
Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (Class D felony)
Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (Class E felony)
If convicted on the top charge, each defendant faces a possible sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.
