NEW YORK - A Manhattan landlord pled guilty this week after being accused of trying to force rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartment.

Ephram Vashovsky was convicted on criminal charges of reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Back in 2014, prosecutors say the 49-year-old allegedly removed load-bearing walls, shut off the heat, and started a campaign to harass the tenants - all while the family of seven still lived in their East 115th Street apartment.

In 2015, the city ordered the building vacated and deemed it uninhabitable.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance says this conviction is a warning to all landlords who force residents to live in dangerous conditions.