A Manhattan real estate agent allegedly called ICE to report that his girlfriend, an Irish national and construction company executive, was in the country illegally in an attempt to seize control of a Tribeca apartment complex.
Her boyfriend, Patrick Moran, 46, is a conservation and preservation expert who has overseen projects for New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Federal Reserve. He claims the lovers’ quarrel was caused by “stress” over a $4.3 million apartment renovation and lasted more than four years.
In the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Moran alleges that during the couple’s argument, her boyfriend, real estate agent Nicholas Jooss, called her a “shitty immigrant” and threatened to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deport her to her native Ireland. independent person I will report it.
Moran and Joos met through mutual friends in 2005 and soon began a romantic relationship. Mr. Choss, a native of San Antonio, was a former cruise shipman. entertainer He gave up his career at sea to pursue work as an actor and singer on Broadway. About six months later, the two moved in together in midtown Manhattan.
Moran and Chos vacationed at Chos’ family ranch in Texas, attended a wedding, and Moran became godfather to Chos’ nephew, according to the complaint. The couple also purchased a Bernedoodle named Benji.
Moran, who earns more than $300,000 a year, was the couple’s “major financier,” while Joos earned a real estate license and split his time between New York and Texas, according to the complaint. The couple bought the apartment above the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio in 2015 for $400,000 and renovated it at Moran’s expense, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that Mr. Moran took several steps to advance Jos’ career, including hiring a “nationally recognized website designer to create and maintain a state-of-the-art website” and providing Schos with down payments on a Range Rover, Mercedes, and Porsche to project the image of a multimillion-dollar real estate broker.
Because of Moran’s immigration status, the San Antonio home was titled in Chos’ name, but “it was understood and intended that both parties would jointly own and benefit from it,” the lawsuit alleges. In 2020, the couple purchased a three-story condominium in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood. Like the San Antonio property, the property was titled in the Choses’ names but was “acquired and renovated with the understanding that it was joint property for mutual benefit,” the lawsuit states.
Renovations to their New York condo took four years and resulted in repeated arguments between the couple. Moran claims that Choss “made derogatory comments, including making phone calls.” [Moran] Moran initially blamed the verbal abuse on stress and “continued to believe in the relationship,” the suit alleges.
The couple eventually discussed their separation and agreed to sell their San Antonio apartment and complete renovations on their Tribeca condo before separating, according to the complaint. In early August, Moran found a notice ordering him to vacate the condo within 10 days. The complaint says Chos’ attorney “falsely accused him of selling methamphetamine,” so he decided to fight the order in court. Moran has no criminal record and denies ever selling drugs.
According to the complaint, Chos contacted ICE to report that Moran was in the country illegally and made repeated false claims that he was dealing methamphetamine, and eight armed ICE agents showed up at the condo to detain Moran.
On the morning of October 31, 2025, Choss allegedly used the phone app Control4 to remotely unlock the door and allow the officers inside. They detained Moran at gunpoint and searched the apartment for drugs, but found no contraband or evidence of drug possession.
No drug-related charges have been filed against Moran. He claims in his lawsuit that six months of surveillance footage from the apartment shows no drugs were being sold there, but Choss has not given him access to the footage.
Moran, who was wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants at the time of his arrest, refused when ICE officers asked him to change into more appropriate clothing and retrieve his keys.
That afternoon, while being held at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, Moran contacted his business partner and IT administrator and gave them permission to enter the condo and remove a laptop and company files “that were necessary for the continued operation of the company,” the complaint states.
After receiving a notification from the Control4 app that they had entered the condo, Kyosu said, “I immediately called them and pretended that this was a federal crime scene and that the police were on their way and that I was about to be arrested.”
After about four weeks in ICE custody, including a stay at a facility in San Diego, Moran was granted “voluntary deportation” to Ireland on a ticket purchased by his parents.
Mr. Chos continues to retain full ownership of the apartment. Moran’s lawsuit seeks joint custody of half of the couple’s joint property and their dog Benji through a legal remedy known as a “constructive trust,” and a court could find that Chos has wrongful possession of Moran’s property and order its return to prevent “unjust enrichment.”
Moran’s deportation comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement, detaining individuals ahead of deportation proceedings.
The Florida Attorney General Recommended According to ICE, people with ex-boyfriends who are in the country illegally are being asked to report them to ICE. USA Today. The chief executive of ICE’s Puerto Rico field office said agents were now receiving “tips of revenge” that they had never encountered before. NPR In June, people were submitting “neighbors with whom you have a bad relationship, or ex-husbands, ex-wives, ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends.”
Moran’s complaint alleges that Chos’ plan to deport him was part of a conspiracy “intended to exploit.” [Moran’s] The purpose is to “illegitimately obtain” a status of residence.[ing] Sole management, ownership and ownership of Tribeca condominiums.
“This is a situation where ICE feels they have used a weapon against him,” said Moran’s attorney, Andreas Basilatos. independent person. “It’s almost like the Mafia just beating up a guy.” [they don’t want around anymore]. But here, instead of punching the guy, you say, “I’m going to call ICE.” ”
Basilatos acknowledged that his client — whom he called a “very kind man” who has “contributed to society and benefited everyone in his life” — was in the U.S. illegally, but “not considering his contributions to America over the past 20 years… [his deportation] Especially strict, especially punitive. ”
Moran said independent person He said the experience made him sad, not knowing what was between him and Kyos.
“I wasn’t angry,” he said. “I was just sad. I’ve been with this person for 20 years, and in my opinion, there wouldn’t be anyone else.”
Moran, who has lived in the United States longer than in Ireland, still considers New York home and hopes to resume life there someday.
“I will recover because America will allow me to do so,” he said. independent person. “That’s why I love it there. But…” [t]There’s got to be something better than this here. It’s not America that I know. ”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
