Manorville man guilty in real estate scams

A Manorville man pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Manhattan to three counts of wire fraud for two separate real estate scams in which he pocketed more than $1.5 million, prosecutors announced.

Elviston Ramasir, 27, the former president of Home Free Realty, solicited money for a scheme to buy foreclosed properties and flip them for a profit, but instead put the funds in his bank account, used them to pay off debts, and spent them on a Mercedes, luxury hotels and cosmetic surgeries, according to federal prosecutors in Manhattan.

That scheme unfolded in 2008 and 2009. Then, after he was charged and released on bail, Ramasir stole thousands more in a new scam - renting properties in the South Ozone Park section of Queens and in Long Beach to several individuals, keeping their money, but never giving them access to the properties.

"Elviston Ramasir is a recidivist of the first order," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.

Ramasir faces up to 70 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 29. His lawyer, Larry Schoenbach, of Manhattan, declined to comment.