Manhattan man defrauds relative out of $698K Bronx house: DA

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — A Manhattan man was indicted for defrauding his wife’s grandfather out of the deed to his house in Soundview, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Tuesday.

Frank Blackshear, 45, was arraigned on grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, falsifying business records, and offering a false instrument for filing charges.

The victim, Milton Roberts, who was 89 at the time of the alleged incident, was the sole owner of a property at 331 Taylor Avenue valued at $698,000, officials said.

Roberts was checked into a nursing home for health-related issues in August 2022.

Between February 14, 2023, and May 19, 2023, Blackshear allegedly transferred the property with a deed bearing him as Trustee of the Blackshear Living Trust, officials said. The beneficiaries of the trust were his wife and children.

The deed was filed with the New York City Department of Finance, prosecutors said.

Additionally, Blackshear allegedly created legal documents giving his family control over Roberts’ assets and health care, including a living will, prosecutors said. The will denies Roberts life-prolonging procedures should they be necessary.

Blackshear is due back in court on October 15, 2024.

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