Two Brooklyn landlords this week answered to charges of harassing and illegally forcing rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartments.
Joel and Aaron Israel own several buildings in Bushwick, Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
The brothers were arrested in April, accused of deliberately destroying the kitchens and bathrooms in several apartments under the guise of rennovations.
Prosecutors charged they wanted to remove rent-stabilized tenants, to rent the apartments at market rate.
As part of a deal, the two have pleaded guilty to scheming to defraud and unlawful eviction.
Both will receive five years probation, perform community service, and pay a nearly a quarter-million dollars in restitution.