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Konrad Bicher, the self-proclaimed “Wolf of Airbnb,” pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with a three-year scheme for fraudulently using Manhattan apartments as short-term rentals.

Starting in early 2019, Bicher and his collaborators began to rent Manhattan apartments with leases that prevented them from being subleased on short-term usage. Bicher failed to make his monthly rent payments on these units, refused to vacate their premises when his leases expired and ignored the lease requirements by renting them out on a short-term basis via online marketplaces including Airbnb.

From mid-2019 to about April 2022, Bicher and his associates failed to make more than $1 million in payments pursuant to the lease agreements while making at least $1.17 in unlawful rental income. And from around April 2021 until in or about July 2021, he obtained over $65,000 in government-guaranteed loans through a loan program of the U.S. Small Business Administration designed to provide relief to small businesses during the pandemic. These PPP applications contained fraudulent documents and false information.

Bicher, a resident of Hialeah, Florida, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also agreed to forfeit $1,740,407.12 and to make restitution to victims in the amount of $1,985,251.

“Bicher proudly referred to himself as the ‘Wolf of Airbnb.’ But, as he admitted in court today, his businesses were premised on fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Bicher entered into lease agreements on false pretenses and made false statements to obtain loans guaranteed by the United States government.  Bicher lined his own pockets by abusing government programs and tenant protections intended to benefit those in crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Thanks to the hard work of the FBI and this Office, he is being held accountable for his conduct.”