“Wolf of Airbnb” Sentenced to 51 Months for Fraudulent Schemes Involving Hell’s Kitchen Apartments

Konrad Bicher, the self-proclaimed “Wolf of Airbnb,” has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for defrauding landlords and the government. According to a statement from the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York , Bicher’s schemes targeted Manhattan buildings, including in Hell’s Kitchen, where he illegally sublet luxury apartments .

“Bicher schemed for years to defraud New York City landlords and the US Government, enriching himself by abusing programs and protections designed to aid those in need during a historic crisis,” said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “Despite bragging about his fraudulent activities and calling himself the ‘Wolf of Airbnb,’ today’s sentence demonstrates that such callous behavior will not go unpunished.”

Starting in February 2019, Bicher and his associates rented numerous apartment units in Manhattan, including at MiMa on W42nd Street (between 9/10th Ave) under lease agreements that prohibited short-term rentals or subletting without the owner’s consent. Bicher failed to make the required rental payments and continued to occupy the units even after the leases expired. He generated income by illegally listing the units on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, collecting over $1.17 million while failing to pay more than $1 million in rent.

The US Attorney said that Bicher also exploited tenant protections enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid eviction and continue his scheme. Additionally, between April and July 2021, Bicher fraudulently obtained over $565,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by submitting falsified tax documents and false information, according to prosecutors.

In March 2022, Hell’s Kitchen landlords sought $1.5 million in damages from Bicher for illegally subletting a unit at MiMa. It was alleged that Bicher and an associate owe over $100,000 in rent for unit 43B, which they rented out for short-term stays and photoshoots. Despite prohibitions against such rentals, they continued their operations, causing significant disruption to building residents and management.

In addition to his prison term, Bicher, 32, of Hialeah, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $1.7 million. He must also pay restitution totaling over $2.2 million.

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