A year after the scandalous “Hipster Grifter” emerged in New York City, she has resurfaced once again. Kari Ferrell Ensor, famous for her fraudulent activities in 2009, is now being sued for unpaid rent. Court documents reveal that she has been living at the Denizen in Bushwick for the past two years, a remarkable complex with two buildings and numerous amenities. The papers were served to a man named “Elliot Doe,” described as a bald white individual, who is believed to be her husband Elliot Ensor. The monthly rent for the apartment is $4,973.50, and it is alleged that Ensor has not paid since at least December.
The Denizen’s lawyer, Peter A. Rose, filed the Supreme Court documents stating the unpaid rent on behalf of the building. However, neither Rose nor Ensor responded to requests for comments. A photograph of Ensor from 2022 depicts her with her husband Elliot. Ensor showcases an extensive phoenix tattoo on her chest. In 2009, Doree Shafrir profiled her in the Observer, describing her as “funny, charming, and adorable.” The article detailed her manipulation of boyfriends for money and her tendency to avoid repayment. She would fabricate pregnancy or terminal illness stories as excuses for her inconsistencies. It could be inferred that some people viewed these inconsistencies as mere mistakes.
Ensor was adopted from South Korea by a couple in Utah who later divorced. The Observer reported that she became one of Salt Lake City’s most wanted fugitives in 2008 due to multiple charges, including forgery, bad checks, and retail theft. She served a few months in jail in Utah before changing her name to Kari Ferrell.
Last year, Ensor garnered attention for claiming to be working on a book proposal and being in talks for a television show, although the veracity of these claims remains unconfirmed. In court papers, Ensor’s lawyer, Jennifer Addonizio Rozen, asserted that Ensor had paid at least a portion of the rent through March 2023, when the landlord initiated legal action. Rozen argued that this lawsuit was a vindictive response to Ensor’s participation in a Tenant’s Association for the Denizen.
Rozen also claimed that the landlord had purposely concealed the actual rent amount, listing it as $4,900 instead of $4,973.50 in unreliable and incomplete city documents. Ensor’s verified Instagram page, which boasts over 84,000 followers, includes images of the apartment she shares with her husband, complete with outdoor space. The Denizen is a massive development with over 900 units situated on the former site of Rheingold Brewery.
Since the Denizen benefits from a 421-a tax abatement and has 20% affordable housing units, the Ensors’ apartment is subject to rent stabilization. Due to intentional rent overcharge, Rozen is seeking treble damages, interest, and lawyer fees on Ensor’s behalf. She also seeks a reduction in rent due to Ensor’s legitimate complaints about the subpar conditions, including mold, flooding, lack of bathroom ventilation, defective appliances, and other maintenance issues. According to Rozen’s documents, Ensor has sought assistance from city agencies to inspect and address these disrepair conditions. However, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development claims to have no record of complaints regarding the subject premises. Similarly, the FDNY has no evidence of electrical fires on the roof, as stated in the court papers.
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