Residents in the Bayside neighborhood of Queens are expressing outrage over Vernon Glass, an individual accused of squatting in a $1.1 million home that has remained vacant since the owner's death in 2018. Neighbors first noticed an occupant in March 2024 and have been unable to remove him despite attempts to involve law enforcement and elected officials.
"This is an awful situation," U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi told ABC Eyewitness News. "A fraudster is wrecking the quality of life for the entire neighborhood. While it’s not a federal issue, we all need to do everything we can do to right this wrong."
The home, located at 2340 205th St., has been unoccupied since the death of its owner, Richard Klibschon, who lived alone and had no family, according to reports. Neighbors described the current occupant as an "illegal occupant" and expressed apprehension and concern about his presence.
This is not the first time Glass has been accused of similar actions. He was reportedly involved in occupying a vacant home in Nassau County, Long Island, in 2018. In that instance, he allegedly changed the locks and rented out the property, collecting over $9,000. He was eventually evicted and sentenced to five years of probation on a misdemeanor charge in December 2019.
Court documents also suggest Glass and another individual previously occupied a home in Flushing, Queens, "by force" and "without permission." However, the legal homeowners reportedly dropped their suit after the property went into foreclosure.
When approached by a reporter, the individual occupying the Bayside home identified himself as living there but declined to comment further for news coverage before entering the property.