Paolo Zampolli’s Gramercy Park townhouse has lengthy doubled as a calling card, showcasing the Trump administration official’s diplomatic credentials, movie star ties and globe-spanning ventures.
At present, the property is drawing consideration for one more cause: allegations that it has quietly operated as an unlicensed short-term rental.
The property at 119 East seventeenth Road seems to have hosted nightly leases for years regardless of town’s crackdown on short-term stays beneath Native Legislation 18, Curbed reported. The legislation, which took impact in 2023, requires hosts renting lodging for fewer than 30 days to stay on-site throughout friends’ stays and bars self-contained models with separate locking entrances.
Listings marketed nightly charges for condominium models within the townhouse, together with a studio for about $200 per night time and a one-bedroom for roughly $250. One other condominium on the property stays listed on Airbnb as a 30-day rental, although evaluations reported by the outlet recommend friends stayed for much shorter intervals.
Division of Buildings information present the property has been the topic of complaints alleging unlawful lodge use, although inspectors closed the instances after citing inadequate proof.
The leases seem to have been marketed virtually solely to Brazilian vacationers via Trip Hub USA-Brasil, a journey firm whose web site just lately went offline after reporting started. The operation allegedly relied on Portuguese-language social media, Brazilian influencers and journey content material selling the townhouse as an inexpensive Manhattan stick with Portuguese-speaking customer support.
The operation is traced to Fabricio Pereira, a longtime Zampolli affiliate who beforehand labored at his modeling company, and Pereira’s spouse, Thais Navarro Leite da Silva, who promoted the leases in Brazilian media.
Zampolli acknowledged that Airbnb listings exist on the townhouse however denied realizing about Trip Hub or the folks allegedly managing the operation.
He stated the leases adjust to New York legislation and claimed he didn’t know the Airbnb host listed on one unit regardless of reported ties to Pereira’s household. Later, Zampolli stated he was beneath FBI investigation and declined additional remark. Pereira additionally stated he was beneath FBI investigation, although the FBI declined to remark.
Zampolli was named ambassador to the Everlasting Mission of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations in 2011 and is the founding father of ID Fashions Administration. At present, he serves as america Particular Consultant for World Partnerships.
Zampolli — who usually will get credit score as introducing President Donald Trump to his spouse, Melania — additionally had a stint as a dealer at Douglas Elliman, which sued him in 2015 for allegedly hiding roughly $4 million in fee from the brokerage.
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