13News Now Investigates asked the seller questions as he left the courthouse for a hearing related to one of the homes he sold.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Newport News judge ruled the home seller at the center of a 13News Now investigation remains the legal owner of some of the homes where his buyers now reside.
Joey Chianese sells homes under the LLC “72019” to people in Hampton Roads.
The structures are often in dire disrepair and, in the case of one house on 24th Street in Newport News, in violation of city codes.
City officials cited him to court for failing to maintain that property through the proper permits. The judge had to decide who is responsible for the repairs: the seller or the tenants?
PREVIOUS STORY: Some local home buyers may not legally own their home
Our investigation last month revealed some people buying these homes began fixing them up, thinking they were the legal owners.
But we found in many cases that it’s actually the LLC.
“As far as my husband and I know, we…
