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Bodybuilding Gym Teacher Accused Of Being Loan Shark
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 8, 2011
Modified Dec 8, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 8, 2011
Modified Dec 8, 2011
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The Nassau County DA's office has charged a NYC teacher with loan sharking, claiming that Queens ISI 141 gym instructor Sean Harris "lent a third party $40,000 at an annual interest rate more than four times the legal limit."
Harris, 36, allegedly "agreed to lend $40,000 to a third party at an interest rate of 2% per week, amounting to an annual interest rate of 104%." The legal limit is 25%.
When he's not teaching, Harris is a professional bodybuilder and has a pending case for "Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree for steroid possession." His new charge is "Criminal Usury in the Second Degree," and DA Kathleen Rice said, "This defendant was trusted to educate children and serve as a positive role model in their lives, but instead he conducted himself like a common criminal." The NYC Department of Education tells the Post that Harris has been removed from teaching since earlier this year.
His lawyer declined to give a statement, telling Newsday Harris will "fight this charge in court, not in the press."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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