100 signatures reached
To: New York Attorney General Leticia James
DEMAND The NY Attorney General Charities Bureau- Vacate the Sale of Stolen Land
Dear Attorney General James and Officers of the Charities Bureau,
We, the undersigned petitioners, formally demand the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau immediately vacate the 2012 sales approval issued under Index No. 4687/2012 (Kings County Supreme Court), authorizing the wrongful sale of 804–806 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY—a property historically owned by the late Rev Charles Murdaugh, founder of Mt. Zion Church of Christ Disciples.
In 2000, following Rev. Murdaugh’s death in 1999, his personal property at 804 and 806 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, was fraudulently transferred into the name of the church. In 2012, when the church petitioned the court to approve the sale, the Charities Bureau knew or should have known that the church did not lawfully own 804 and 806 Myrtle Avenue.
This court-approved sale was granted due to the Charities Bureau’s failure to object to the submission of a deed for an entirely different property (802 Myrtle Ave), the absence of the actual deed for 804 and 806 Myrtle Ave, the lack of any Surrogate’s Court administration, the absence of notice to rightful heirs, and the lack of legal authority by those who petitioned the court.
The role of the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau is explicitly to scrutinize sales petitions for any indication of fraud before the courts approve the sales of church properties. The failure in discharging this duty has facilitated an egregious miscarriage of justice.
The Attorney General’s Chief of Charities Transactions, James Sheehan, has been well aware of this matter since 2014, yet he has refused to take action to rectify this injustice. While other instances of charity fraud have been corrected over the years, his continued inaction in this case displays clear selective enforcement and a disregard for equal protection under the law.The failure to address this blatant fraud is a betrayal of public trust.
A 44-unit luxury apartment building now sits on land stolen from Charles Murdaugh, with the involvement of the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.
In 2000, following Rev. Murdaugh’s death in 1999, his personal property at 804 and 806 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, was fraudulently transferred into the name of the church. In 2012, when the church petitioned the court to approve the sale, the Charities Bureau knew or should have known that the church did not lawfully own 804 and 806 Myrtle Avenue.
This court-approved sale was granted due to the Charities Bureau’s failure to object to the submission of a deed for an entirely different property (802 Myrtle Ave), the absence of the actual deed for 804 and 806 Myrtle Ave, the lack of any Surrogate’s Court administration, the absence of notice to rightful heirs, and the lack of legal authority by those who petitioned the court.
The role of the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau is explicitly to scrutinize sales petitions for any indication of fraud before the courts approve the sales of church properties. The failure in discharging this duty has facilitated an egregious miscarriage of justice.
The Attorney General’s Chief of Charities Transactions, James Sheehan, has been well aware of this matter since 2014, yet he has refused to take action to rectify this injustice. While other instances of charity fraud have been corrected over the years, his continued inaction in this case displays clear selective enforcement and a disregard for equal protection under the law.The failure to address this blatant fraud is a betrayal of public trust.
A 44-unit luxury apartment building now sits on land stolen from Charles Murdaugh, with the involvement of the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.
We demand the Charities Bureau act within its supervisory capacity to move to vacate the sale and initiate corrective action, pursuant to CPLR § 5015(a)(3), which allows relief from an order obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct. The New York Attorney General’s continued inaction only deepens the injury caused by this unlawful transfer and undermines public trust in the oversight of charitable and religious property.
We demand justice, accountability, and restoration.
Why is this important?
- Stolen Land = Stolen Legacy
This property personally belonged to a Black church founder who served his community since 1944. Its wrongful sale is part of a broader pattern of Black land loss that must be stopped and reversed. - Fraud Should Never Be Rewarded
The sale was approved using the wrong deed, the Charities Bureau involvement, without surrogates court supervision, and without the rightful heirs’ involvement. Fraudulent actions should not be allowed to stand. - Accountability Matters
The Attorney General’s Office is supposed to protect the public and charitable assets—not allow them to be quietly sold for private gain. Holding them accountable is how we protect all communities. - Churches and Families Deserve Legal Protection
If one family’s land can be taken without proper oversight, it can happen to others too. Signing this petition helps defend not just one family’s rights, but the rights of countless others. - Reclaiming Our Community
A 44-unit luxury apartment was built on this land—but the people and mission it once served were erased. Signing helps fight gentrification and displacement. - Demand Justice Through CPLR 5015
New York law allows courts to vacate orders obtained by fraud. This petition asks the AG’s Office to enforce the law and fix what they approved in error. - This Is About More Than One Address
It’s about exposing a systemic failure, confronting injustice in property law, and restoring what was wrongfully taken. - Make Your Voice Count
Every signature helps show the Attorney General this issue won’t be ignored. You can be part of history by demanding justice.