(BrightPress.org) – Konrad Bicher, a 32-year-old from Florida who fancied himself the “Wolf of Airbnb,” has been sentenced to over four years in prison. This follows his guilty plea to charges of illegally subletting more than 18 Manhattan apartments and accumulating over $1 million in rental income while avoiding paying any rent.
Between July 2019 and April 2022, Bicher managed to generate more than $1.1 million from these unauthorized “mini-hotels.” On top of that, he fraudulently claimed over $565,000 from the U.S. government’s COVID-19 relief program. According to prosecutors, Bicher exploited pandemic-era tenant protections to prevent eviction, all while renting out properties that weren’t legally his to rent.
During the height of the pandemic, Bicher expressed his intentions to escalate his fraudulent activities in texts to his partners. He boasted about his plans to manipulate the rental market and disparaged landlords in graphic terms.
Bicher’s self-styled “wolf” persona drew inspiration from the film The Wolf of Wall Street, which tells the story of convicted fraudster Jordan Belfort. Despite claiming wealth and success through social media posts flaunting private jets and luxury vacations, Bicher was deep in debt to his landlords.
In court, Bicher didn’t address the judge before receiving his sentence. Along with his 51-month prison term, he was ordered to forfeit more than $1.7 million and pay over $2.2 million in restitution. Once released, he will be under supervised release for three years.
Bicher’s criminal history includes a 2015 conviction for impersonating a landlord to collect rent unlawfully. His attorney had requested a lighter sentence, citing Bicher’s young daughter and stay-at-home wife.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams criticized Bicher for exploiting government programs meant to aid businesses and individuals during a severe crisis. He emphasized that regardless of self-given titles or pretensions, fraudsters will face consequences for their actions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weinberg led the prosecution.
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