A federal bankruptcy judge seized control of six blighted apartment complexes from landlord Joshua Bruno on Monday, after Bruno was accused of “potentially fraudulent” money transfers.
Bruno owns several properties in disrepair across the New Orleans metro area including the abandoned 336-unit Oakmont Apartments in Algiers.
According to Nola.com, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill wrote that Bruno could not account for $800,000 of hurricane insurance money saying Bruno allowed the money to, “vanish in the wind without one receipt, cancelled check, or other primary-source support to show that the proceeds were spent on repairs to the properties.”
Related
As the paper reports, Judge Grabill says Bruno, “Operates solely in his own interest, is inclined to flout or skirt laws, rules, regulations, and ethics when it suits him, and, at times, prefers the use of intimidation and strong-arm tactics.”
The judge ordered Bruno to hand over financial records, cash, and any other assets for the six blighted properties he owns. She also appointed a trustee following Bruno filing for bankruptcy protection to avoid foreclosure on five properties he owns in Orleans Parish and one he owns in Jefferson Parish.