Prominent NYC developer Nir Meir arrested in vast years-long $86M fraud scheme: prosecutors
NY Post
A former bigwig at a once-prominent Big Apple development firm and a slew of other real estate industry executives were indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing more than $86 million in a years-long fraud scheme, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Nir Meir, 49, and the since-shuttered HFZ Capital Group he once worked for allegedly swindled millions of dollars from investors, subcontractors and New York City during his five years at the company, according to an indictment.
Two other former HFZ employees and three Omnibuild construction firm executives were also slapped with varying counts of larceny, conspiracy, falsifying business records, tax fraud and money laundering in the wide-ranging criminal probe.
The case largely centers on the development of a luxury Manhattan condo project called the XI, prosecutors allege.
HFZ — founded in 2005 by Ziel Feldman — had hired Omnibuild in 2015 to construct two mixed-use commercial and residential towers along the High Line in Chelsea, according to the indictment. Feldman isn’t charged in the case.
Prosecutors allege Meir directed the project’s funds, totaling more than $253 million in four years, to be transferred to various LLCs controlled by HFZ — despite the trust assets being legally required to be used on the development.
