'Wolf of Airbnb' who masterminded illegal million-dollar subletting scheme learns his fate as bombshell text reveals how he planned to 'rape every single landlord in NYC'

The self-proclaimed 'Wolf of Airbnb' who masterminded an illegal million-dollar subletting scheme learned his fate in Manhattan federal court on Monday, as bombshell texts reveal how he planned to 'rape every single landlord in NYC.'

Prosecutors have said Konrad Bircher, 32, of Hialeah, Florida, defrauded both New York City landlords and a federal pandemic-relief government program as he raked in more than $1.1million from his illegal 'mini hotels' from July 2019 through April 2022.

He exploited the COVID-era tenant protections to prevent landlords from evicting him, while he rented out their properties, court documents say. 

At the same time, he collected more than $565,000 from the federal government's Payment Protection Program, a pandemic-era relief program designed to help small businesses.

Bircher will now spend four years and three months behind bars and another three years of supervised release for the scheme, a federal judge ruled on Monday.

Konrad Bircher, 32, of Hialeah, Florida, was sentenced Monday to serve more than four years in prison

He had been on the hook for as many as 20 years in prison, but he pleaded guilty last year to a wire fraud charge, Bloomberg reports.

Bircher was also ordered to forfeit $1.7 million and pay another $2.2 million in restitution. 

Prosecutors had pushed for the tough sentence, arguing he operated at least 18 Manhattan apartments as so-called 'mini-hotels' while using the pandemic as an excuse not to pay landlords more than $ 1million in rent.

They pointed to texts Bircher had sent to friends and colleagues about the scheme - including one on April 20, 2020 in which he wrote: 'Now bro, I will become evil,' according to the sentencing submission.

He added in another text that he would 'rape every single landlord in NYC.' and in a third, he wrote that 'every landlord now is gonna be f***eddddd.'

He used the MiMa building, on 450 West 42nd Street, for short-term rentals  

Among the buildings Bircher used for short-term Airbnb stays was the MiMa building, on 450 West 42nd Street, where properties sell for between $1.5 and $6.5million - and cost between $4,000 to $10,000 to rent per month.

But Bircher would rent out the apartments for $97 an hour - against a New York City law that makes it illegal to rent out an entire apartment for less than 30 days without the owner or regular tenant being present.

Prosecutors said his 'modus operandi is to enter into leases for Manhattan residential apartments or, as here, worm his way into occupancy, and run a type of 'bust-out' operation.' 

'That includes renting the apartment out as a profit center through Airbnb, Peerspace and other similar platforms for short-term rentals, failing to pay rent, using the pandemic and laws related thereto to delay any proceedings, and to vacate on the point of eviction.' 

He would refuse to vacate the rental properties even after his lease expired - even though he was actually living in Florida at the time, according to prosecutors.

Meanwhile, he would flaunt his newfound wealth on social media, sharing photos of him enjoying private jet rides and lavish vacations.

He also started bragging to his friends that he was the 'Wolf of Airbnb' - an homage to Jordan Belfort, who was known as the 'Wolf of Wall Street.' 

In a text to The Real Deal, Bircher addressed giving himself the dubious nickname, saying: 'The Wolf of Airbnb: It means someone who is hungry and ruthless enough to get on top of the financial ladder. They compare the ferocity to that of a wolf, because wolves are territorial, vicious and show no mercy when provoked.' 

Bircher flaunted his wealth on social media, sharing photos of him enjoying private jet rides and lavish vacations

'The defendant sees this as an opportunity to just enrich himself,' Assistant US Attorney Matthew Weinberg argued in court on Monday.

'It is deeply offensive.'

Prosecutors also noted that Bircher fought lawsuits from landlords by falsely claiming he was suffering from COVID-related hardships and by lying about his residency.

He even had two prior convictions, including a 2015 bust for impersonating a landlord to get paid for rent he was not entitled to collect, according to the New York Post. 

But his attorneys had argued for leniency, blaming landlords for some of the Manhattan apartment troubles.

They argued that many of the landlords knew what he was doing, but sought him out anyway when they had trouble finding tenants during the pandemic.

The defense also mentioned that Bircher has a six-month-old daughter and stay-at-home wife.

Following the sentencing, US Attorney Damian Williams noted Bircher enjoyed the 'wolf' moniker.

'But as today's sentence underscores, those who partake in such callous and fraudulent conduct will answer for their crimes, no matter their self-given title.'