Comatose Landlord Convicted Of Fraud Has Bleak Prognosis

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 30, 2007

Multimillionaire real estate investor Steven Green remains in a coma nearly three weeks after he was hit by a car in New York and is considered "likely to die" from severe head trauma, according to documents on file in U.S. District Court.

The notorious landlord, once considered one of Hillsborough County's worst, was sentenced in February to 33 months in federal prison on charges of tax evasion and fraud. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew gave him until June 28 to report to prison but later extended the reporting deadline until July 7.

His attorney, Louis E. Cherico, filed a motion Tuesday asking Bucklew to extend the reporting date an additional 90 days and then review Green's medical condition to consider another extension.

In support of the motion, Cherico included a police report that describes Green as having "severe head trauma [and] likely to die."

Cherico also included a letter from physician Joseph DeMattia of St. Vincent's Hospital, where Green was taken after the accident. The letter, dated May 17, says Green "remains in an unresponsive state."

It also says Green was taken to the operating room the day of the accident for a "craniotomy and evacuation of a hematoma."

"I have personally observed Mr. Green almost daily since the accident and can attest that he remains in a non-induced coma," Cherico wrote in his motion, "I last visited Mr. Green's room May 28, 2007, (yesterday) at 5:00 p.m."

He also wrote that doctors "are unable to determine at this time what Mr. Green's physical and mental condition will be when and if he awakens from the coma."

A car struck Green as he left the Posh Bar at 405 W. 51st St. and was walking across the street to get to his car, according to a police report.

Once one of Tampa's worst code violators for low-income housing, Green was ordered as part of his sentence to pay $4.1 million in restitution to the bank he defrauded by using a false Social Security number on a $9 million mortgage application for the once-condemned Amberwood apartment complex on North Florida Avenue. The court also ordered Green to pay a $10,000 fine and serve three years of probation after he completes his prison sentence.

A prosecutor said at his sentencing hearing that Green's net worth is $77 million and he uses a private jet to travel the country.

Attacking Green's portrayal in the media as a slumlord, defense attorneys said at the hearing that Green took substandard housing and made it livable. Green has said he hates to fly and has the jet out of necessity. He told the judge he donates the jet to a charity that flies sick children for medical treatment.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.