A ‘scammer’ accused of coming at the very least five Manhattan women of all ages out of much more than $1.8million immediately after meeting them on dating web-sites has appeared in courtroom.
Nelson Counne, 70, was arraigned on two counts for grand larceny in the next diploma, and one particular in the 3rd degree as well as fraud at Manhattan Supreme Court docket on Monday.
He instructed females that he was a wealthy artwork collector and investor, just before allegedly scamming them into creating hefty investments in his faux providers.
Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg explained that the incidents day again to 2012, but Counne was only arrested on March 13 this 12 months and has denied the allegations from him.
Counne was beforehand unmasked as a conman by a piece in the New Yorker – which branded him as ‘the worst boyfriend on the Upper East Side.’
Nelson Counne, 70, is accused of conference females in lavish bars in Manhattan and on relationship apps just before scamming them into creating investments into pretend providers
Counne would brag that he was a rich artwork collector and investor and lived in a mega-mansion near to Central Park
Choose Gregory Carro ordered Counne, who plead not responsible, to be held on $150,000 income bail or a bond of up to $750,000 pending a return courtroom appearance on Could 3.
The suspected con artist would fulfill gals on Our Time, which catered to an more mature clientele, prior to bragging about his properties in London, Florida and Saint-Tropez as nicely as a big mega-mansion condominium close to Central Park – 35 East 63rd Avenue.
He would use the alias Nelson or Justin Roth in his schemes, telling women that he claimed he experienced obtain to the Alibaba Team and a bogus start-up corporation Counne reported he co-owned with a former Google government.
Before long into the new interactions he would start out pitching girls financial investment options, with some saying to the New Yorker that he would also steal their jewelry to present to his new enjoy pursuits.
Manhattan Assistant District Lawyer Kofi Sansculotte claimed in court: ‘In the finish, practically all of Counne’s representations proved to be bogus.
‘He was not independently wealthy and the only money into his accounts had been from verified and suspected victims of his romance cons.
‘Further, the money place into his accounts by the victims had been hardly ever employed for any investments but have been rather applied to perpetuate the illusion of his prosperity to new victims and to repay previous victims who experienced detected his fraud.’
Prosecutors also instructed the courtroom that Counne experienced never traveled internationally and did not even individual a passport.
He would use the alias Nelson or Justin Roth in his techniques, telling women that he claimed he had entry to the Alibaba Team and a fake begin-up company Counne stated he co-owned with a previous Google govt
Soon into the new relationships he would start off pitching gals investment decision options, with some professing to the New Yorker that he would also steal their jewellery to reward to his new really like passions
He would brag about his residences in London, Florida and Saint-Tropez as perfectly as a big mega-mansion apartment close to Central Park – 35 East 63rd Street. Pictured: Luxury lodge Carlyle where he would woo his alleged victims
He would use courting apps as very well as concentrating on females in luxury hotels and eating places – including 5-star UES lodge Carlyle and the Surrey.
Victims advised the New Yorker that they met him in Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar and the Orsay cafe during their dalliance with him.
At the time gals started off generating original investments, he would declare that they had to give him extra money for expenditures and salaries for personnel.
Counne claimed that his cash ended up tied up in investments, or that his accounts ended up frozen because of to U.S. and European investigations into his economical things to do.
He promised to repay each individual of the victims their first expenditure moreover a significant income in a handful of weeks.
Previous yr he was also charged with scamming a Connecticut female out of $500,000, according to a report by Greenwich Time.
His attorney instructed Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday that he is an ‘elderly man’ who always appeared in court docket when necessary.
Dannielle Von Lehman added that his felony heritage dates to 2007, but did not give specifics.
In 1987 Counne was indicted for the murder of a jewelry seller, for which he was later acquitted – with the alleged conman then getting shot various moments in the chest a few yrs afterwards
Victims told the New Yorker that they fulfilled him in Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar (pictured) and the Orsay restaurant during their dalliance with him
The suspected con artist would meet women on Our Time, which catered to an older clientele
In 1987 Counne was indicted for the murder of a jewellery vendor, for which he was later on acquitted – with the alleged conman then becoming shot many times in the chest 3 several years later.
Assistant DA Raymond Castello claimed that a loved ones member of the jewellery vendor who experienced been killed, was ‘some form of karma for his past deeds’ according to the New Yorker.
The article in the New Yorker specifics Counne’s associations with at least four girls, relationship again to 2000.
All of the women of all ages say they achieved hinm in the Upper East Facet, and Counne introduced himself as a ‘mysterious’ person who had a good deal of cash and
Counne has also observed himself battling towards a civil situation, which was lodged in 2022, where by he was accused of ‘owing money to the plaintiff for loans’.
He would use dating apps as well as concentrating on females in luxurious hotels and dining places – together with five-star UES lodge Carlyle and the Surrey
Previous yr he was also billed with scamming a Connecticut woman out of $500,000, in accordance to a report by Greenwich Time
Assistant DA Raymond Castello claimed that a family members member of the jewellery seller who had been killed, was ‘some type of karma for his past deeds’ according to the New Yorker. Pictured: Campagnola where he achieved just one of his alleged victims
It is unclear if the plaintiff, another woman, is one particular of the 5 referred to in the felony scenario. Her attorneys are trying to find at the very least $1million in passions, expenses and expenditures as perfectly as damages.
DA Bragg extra: ‘As alleged, Nelson Counne’s sole resource of earnings for the past 8 decades was money he swindled.
‘He allegedly fed lie soon after lie to girls he falsely claimed to have a intimate interest in, engaging them with financial investment options that by no means existed though making use of their cash to repay earlier victims, entice in new types, and fund his life-style.
‘We urge everyone to exercising caution when instructed there’s an investment decision possibility that appears far too great to be real.
‘If you or an individual you know has been a target of a rip-off, we are below to enable – call us at 212-335-8900.’