Con man, 70, accused of defrauding at least FIVE women out of more than $1.8 million in Manhattan
A “con man” accused of extorting at least five Manhattan women out of more than $1.8 million after meeting them on dating sites has appeared in court.
Nelson Counne, 70, was arraigned Monday on two counts of grand theft in the second degree, one count in the third degree and fraud in Manhattan Supreme Court.
He told the women that he was a wealthy art collector and investor, before allegedly conning them into making large investments in his bogus companies.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the incidents date back to 2012, but Counne was only arrested on March 13 of this year and has denied the allegations against him.
Counne was previously exposed as a con man for a piece on the New Yorker – who called him ‘the worst boyfriend on the Upper East Side’.
Nelson Counne, 70, is accused of meeting women in fancy Manhattan bars and on dating apps before conning them into investing in bogus companies.
Counne boasted that he was a wealthy art collector and investor and lived in a mega-mansion near Central Park.
Judge Gregory Carro ordered Counne, who has pleaded not guilty, held on $150,000 cash bond or up to $750,000 bond pending a new court appearance on May 3.
The alleged con man would meet women at Our Time, which catered to an older clientele, before showing off his homes in London, Florida and Saint-Tropez, as well as a sprawling apartment in a mega-mansion near Central Park: 35 East 63rd St.
He used the aliases Nelson or Justin Roth in his schemes, telling the women that he claimed to have access to the Alibaba Group and a bogus startup. Counne said he co-owned it with a former Google executive.
Soon into new relationships, he would begin offering investment opportunities to women, with some claiming to the New Yorker that he would also steal her jewelry to gift to her new love interests.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Kofi Sansculotte said in court: “In the end, almost all of Counne’s representations turned out to be false.”
“He was not independently wealthy and the only funds in his accounts came from confirmed and suspected victims of his romance scams.
“Furthermore, the money the victims put into their accounts was never used for any investment, but was instead used to perpetuate the illusion of their wealth to new victims and to pay off previous victims who had caught their fraud.”
Prosecutors also told the court that Counne had never traveled internationally and did not even have a passport.
He used the aliases Nelson or Justin Roth in his schemes, telling the women that he claimed to have access to the Alibaba Group and a bogus startup. Counne said he co-owned it with a former Google executive.
Soon into new relationships, he would begin offering investment opportunities to women, with some claiming to the New Yorker that he would also steal her jewelry to gift to her new love interests.
He boasted of his homes in London, Florida, and Saint-Tropez, as well as a huge apartment in a mega-mansion near Central Park: 35 East 63rd Street. In the photo: Carlyle luxury hotel where he would court his alleged victims
He would use dating apps and target women in high-end hotels and restaurants, including the five-star UES Carlyle and Surrey hotel.
The victims told the New Yorker that they met him at Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar and the Orsay restaurant during their flirtation with him.
Once the women started making initial investments, he claimed they had to give him more money for expenses and staff salaries.
Counne claimed that his funds were tied up in investments or that his accounts were frozen due to US and European investigations into his financial activities.
He promised to return each of the victims their initial investment plus a substantial profit within a few weeks.
Last year he was also accused of defrauding a Connecticut woman out of $500,000, according to a Greenwich Time report.
His attorney told Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday that he is an “elder” who always appears in court when required.
Dannielle Von Lehman added that her criminal record dates back to 2007, but did not provide details.
In 1987, Counne was indicted for the murder of a jewelery salesman, for which he was later acquitted, and the alleged con man was shot multiple times in the chest three years later.
The victims told the New Yorker that they met him at Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar (pictured) and the Orsay restaurant during their flirtation with him.
The alleged scammer would meet women at Our Time, which catered to an older clientele.
In 1987, Counne was indicted for the murder of a jewelery salesman, for which he was later acquitted, and the alleged con man was shot multiple times in the chest three years later.
Assistant District Attorney Raymond Castello said a member of the jewelry dealer’s family who had been killed was “some kind of karma from his past actions,” according to the New Yorker.
The New Yorker article details Counne’s relationships with at least four women, dating back to the year 2000.
All the women say they met him on the Upper East Side, and Counne introduced himself as a “mystery” man who had a lot of money and
Counne also found himself fighting a civil case, which was filed in 2022, where he was accused of “owing the plaintiff money for loans.”
He would use dating apps and target women in high-end hotels and restaurants, including the five-star UES Carlyle and Surrey hotel.
Last year he was also accused of defrauding a Connecticut woman out of $500,000, according to a Greenwich Time report.
Assistant District Attorney Raymond Castello said a member of the jewelry dealer’s family who had been killed was “some kind of karma from his past actions,” according to the New Yorker. In the photo: Campagnola where he met one of his alleged victims.
It is not clear if the applicant, another woman, is one of the five referred to in the criminal case. Her attorneys are seeking at least $1 million in interest, costs and expenses, as well as damages.
DA Bragg added: ‘As alleged, Nelson Counne’s only source of income for the last eight years was the money he swindled.
He allegedly fed lie after lie to women he falsely claimed to have a romantic interest in, luring them with investment opportunities that never existed while using their funds to pay off past victims, lure new ones, and finance his lifestyle.
‘We urge everyone to be careful when told about an investment opportunity that seems too good to be true.
‘If you or someone you know has been the victim of a scam, we are here to help; call us at 212-335-8900’.