Office of the District Attorney
P. David Soares
Albany County Judicial Building
Albany , New York 12207
(518) 487-5460
(518) 487-5093 – fax

Dare Pleads Guilty to Real Estate Fraud

ALBANY , NY –  Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares announced today that AARON DARE of Albany, NY, pled guilty to (1) count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing, a Class “E” Felony in front of the Honorable Dan Lamont. DARE faces 1 to 3 years in prison, to run consecutively with the federal sentence imposed, when sentenced on June 19, 2008.

These charges come as a result of crimes that were committed after DARE pled guilty to federal charges. Dare remains on house arrest pending sentencing in the federal case. The state investigation continues and more charges are forthcoming.

“I am pleased that this defendant has taken responsibility today by entering a guilty plea for fraud associated with 215 Second Avenue, but I can say with certainty that this will not be the last encounter he has with this office,” commented DA Soares. “While awaiting sentencing on federal charges, this man continued to commit crimes in our community and I will aggressively pursue the dozens of complaints that have caused irreparable damage to our citizens and neighborhoods.”

On or about March 26, 2007 at the Albany County Clerk’s Office and or at 539 Central Avenue in the City of Albany, DARE filed a fraudulent real property deed indicating that  215 Second Avenue, Albany, New York was purchased by a victim from a company known as “R&W Companies Nationwide Inc.”, for $150,000, when in fact, the transaction for 215 Second Avenue was between “SPMC Real Estate Holdings LLC” and the victim. This transaction made the sale of the property to the victim invalid, but DARE led the victim to believe she owned the property.

The arrest comes after a joint investigation by the New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney for the Northern District and the Office of the Albany County District Attorney.

Financial Crimes Bureau Chief Chris Baynes is handling the prosecution of this case.