Evgeny “Gene” Freidman, dubbed the “Taxi King,” was arrested this week for allegedly skipping out on paying $5 million in taxes.
Freidman is accused of failing to pay 50-cent Metropolitan Transportation Authority surcharges between 2012 and 2015, the Associated Press reported. As of Wednesday, he was being held in Albany County jail on $500,000 bail.
An attorney for Freidman said his client denies the charges.
It’s been a rough couple of years for Freidman. In 2015, Madison Realty Capital [TRDataCustom] moved to foreclose 11 properties owned by Freidman on Coney Island, alleging that he defaulted on $368,708 in mortgage payments. Last year, Capital One filed a petition to collect $8.4 million in debt that it alleged Freidman failed to pay off.
In April, the Taxi and Limousine Commission ruled that Freidman could no longer manage the 800-plus taxi medallions he’s controlled for several years. Freidman previously managed medallions owned by Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney. [AP] — Kathryn Brenzel