A Senegalese man who was busted this week for illegally housing dozens of African migrants packed into two of his properties was additionally nabbed for working an identical makeshift shelter in January, the New York Publish reviews.
Ebou Sarr, 47, who has apparently had a number of run-ins with the regulation up to now, was discovered to have been charging the desperate migrants $300 a month to remain at his two New York Metropolis properties – a furnishings retailer in Queens and a former cellular phone retailer within the Bronx – the place they confronted cramped dwelling situations. Video from contained in the Queens constructing exhibits a room with tightly packed bunk beds aspect by aspect divided by a slim aisle.
Sarr was hit with a slew of violations for the buildings’ harmful situations and each have been ordered vacated.
Ebou Sarr, high left, the Previous Fordham Library the place migrants have been staying, backside left, and a photograph from inside an unlawful shelter in Queens, proper. (Fox 5, Google Maps and screenshot of video obtained by the New York Publish)
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The New York Publish, citing courtroom paperwork, now reviews that Sarr was additionally busted in January for working a 3rd pop-up hostel in an deserted library within the Bronx. The constructing, often called the Previous Fordham Library, is positioned at 2556 Bainbridge Ave., simply off Coles Lane.
He reportedly instructed police they have been strolling into “our migrant shelter,” after they sweeped the outdated bookhouse, the courtroom paperwork state.
“I run it,” Sarr instructed police, in accordance with a legal grievance. “I help these people because they have nowhere to go. Shelters won’t accept us. I have proof of residency from the mayor… I have a business up the street, but this is where I live.”
He was charged with legal trespassing, the NYPD instructed Fox Information Digital.
A common view of the constructing in Queens the place Senegalese migrants have been being housed, on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Roughly 74 migrants have been discovered dwelling within the basement the place the owner reportedly collected $300 per migrant. (Paul Martinka for New York Publish)
DOZENS OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS FOUND LIVING PACKED INSIDE STORE BASEMENT, SLEEPING IN SHIFTS
Nonetheless, Sarr is demanding town let migrants use the constructing as a shelter since it’s at present mendacity idle.
“Places like that, they can put the people in. Fix the place and put the people in there,” Sarr instructed the Publish.
“It was a place that I think is empty and it’s safe for us to put our people. We were trying to get the city to give us that library. It’s been there for so many years,” Sarr instructed The Publish Thursday.
Police additionally revealed to Fox Information Digital that Sarr has been arrested a number of occasions over the past decade.
In 2020, he was arrested for allegedly pushing his spouse, inflicting her to hit her head on a chair, earlier than then making an attempt to strangle her. He has additionally been arrested for working a stolen automobile with no license, legal possession of marijuana and legal contempt for violating an order of safety.
On Wednesday, metropolis officers swept a two-story business constructing on East Kingsbridge Road in Fordham being operated by Sarr, the place they discovered 34 beds on the primary flooring and 11 beds within the cellar tightly packed collectively.
Inspectors additionally discovered extension cords, e-bikes, house heaters and hotplates contained in the Bronx constructing, the New York Metropolis Dept. of Buildings (DOB) instructed Fox 5. Lithium batteries brought on a record number of fires, accidents and deaths in New York Metropolis final 12 months, in accordance with the FDNY, highlighting the hazardous nature of the ability.
An NYPD officer stands guard by the again entrance to a constructing in Queens the place Senegalese migrants have been being housed, on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Roughly 74 migrants have been discovered dwelling within the basement the place the owner reportedly collected $300 per migrant. (Paul Martinka for New York Publish)
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The sweep got here simply two days after a furnishings constructing in Queens owned by Sarr was discovered to have additionally been converted into a makeshift hostel, cramming no less than 74 migrants into the primary flooring and cellar.
Sarr instructed Fox 5 that many of the migrants are from Senegal and that he was offering them with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cellphone video from contained in the constructing confirmed the African males in a brilliant white room stuffed with beds with a low ceiling. The beds are positioned shut along with restricted strolling room — a single slim lane runs by means of the room with beds on both aspect. One other video confirmed an identical room stuffed with bunk beds.
