DC sues ‘slumlord’ family operating real-estate empire, citing RICO

February 12, 2026 - 18:49

The District of Columbia has launched a major legal offensive against a family accused of operating a vast network of neglected rental properties, filing a lawsuit that employs statutes typically reserved for organized crime. The civil complaint alleges the family and their associated companies functioned as a criminal enterprise, exploiting tenants across hundreds of housing units for over a decade.

Authorities detail a pattern of severe housing code violations, including persistent rodent and insect infestations, mold, leaking roofs, and a failure to provide basic utilities like heat and hot water. The lawsuit goes beyond typical housing cases by invoking the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. It accuses the family of engaging in a scheme of wire fraud and mail fraud by collecting rent for units they knowingly left in dangerous and illegal conditions.

The legal action seeks substantial financial penalties, including restitution for affected tenants and the disgorgement of all rent collected from properties with outstanding code violations. This aggressive approach signals a significant escalation in the city's efforts to hold large-scale property owners accountable for the systemic deterioration of affordable housing stock and the well-being of residents. The case portrays a business model allegedly built on maximizing profit through the deliberate neglect of essential maintenance and legal obligations to tenants.