A man paid $200.57 for one night at a famous NYC hotel, then lived there rent-free for years. Now he could go to jail.

"As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the City's most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel. Prosecutors said Barreto skirted thousands of dollars worth of rent payments by exploiting a little-known local housing law, and then attempted to charge another tenant in the building rent."

"Barreto's residency at the renowned hotel dates back to 2018 when he first learned about New York City's Rent Stabilization Code. This law grants tenants living in individual rooms in buildings built before 1969 the right to request a six-month lease. In June 2018, Barreto checked into room 2565 with his partner for one night and was charged $200.57."

"In February 2026, he pled guilty to a felony count of filing a false instrument and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of post-release probation. Barreto faced 24 charges, including 14 felony fraud counts."

Mickey Barreto booked a single night at the New Yorker Hotel in 2018 for $200.57, then exploited New York City's Rent Stabilization Code to remain rent-free for five years. The law grants tenants in pre-1969 buildings the right to request six-month leases on individual rooms. After requesting a lease, Barreto was evicted but continued residing in the hotel without paying rent. He later attempted to claim ownership of the iconic landmark and charge another tenant rent. Police arrested him in February 2024 for filing fraudulent property records. In February 2026, he pleaded guilty to filing a false instrument and received a six-month jail sentence plus five years probation.

Read at Business Insider