Nir Meir bought himself time when he submitted for personal bankruptcy in early February, delaying a listening to in New York tied to a $19 million judgment.
Then he was taken absent in handcuffs in Miami Beach front the subsequent week.
Now, new specifics have emerged about the arrest of the former HFZ Cash Team executive who was indicted by the Manhattan district legal professional this 7 days on prices of grand larceny and tax fraud.
At about 3:45 p.m. on Monday, a Miami Beach front law enforcement officer referred to as Meir’s estranged wife, Ranee Bartolacci, telling her to select up their minimal little ones from the condominium Meir was living in at 1 Lodge & Households South Seashore, divorce documents acquired by The True Deal present.
He was transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Heart in Miami, where by he was booked just right before 7 p.m. He’ll possible be held there until eventually his extradition to New York this thirty day period.
Again in New York, D.A. Alvin L. Bragg on Wednesday indicted Meir, HFZ Funds Team and a team of Omnibuild executives for fraud techniques totaling $86 million. Meir, the former 2nd in command at the now-defunct HFZ, was billed with grand larceny and tax fraud for schemes dating back to 2015 involving kickbacks and phony assignments, according to D.A.’s place of work.
Two days before the indictment, Miami Beach front police officers showed up to the 1 Lodge condominium with the fugitive warrant. Monday is one particular of the two mounted times a week that Meir experienced their youngsters right away. He secured 50 per cent custody previously in the divorce proceedings, in accordance to court information.
Bartolacci is once again looking for complete-time custody of their a few little ones subsequent the traumatic arrest, according to an unexpected emergency movement her lawyer submitted on Tuesday.
“Upon arrival, she found the youngsters waiting with armed law enforcement officers, having just seen their father taken absent in handcuffs,” the motion states. A police officer informed her about the extradition and “that the partner would not be returning before long.” The officer recommended Bartolacci acquire the children’s belongings from the condominium.
On Wednesday, Meir waived his extradition rights. A listening to is established for Feb. 22, in accordance to the court docket, however Meir may perhaps be taken to New York right before then. It’s unclear who his legal professional is in the felony circumstance.
Bartolacci’s regulation agency Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas declined to remark.
“At this time I am concentrating on my little ones,” Bartolacci said in a assertion furnished to TRD. “They have been through a good deal and are my sole precedence.”
Court docket data paint a photo of Meir’s own and qualified life continuing to crumble. On Feb. 1, Meir submitted for Chapter 7 individual bankruptcy in South Florida, in which he claimed he has $30 million in liabilities.
Right after the spouse and children was evicted from their luxurious rental household in Miami Beach front final calendar year, Bartolacci moved in with her parents in Palm Beach front County. She moved again to Miami following Meir confident a decide he would include fees, such as housing and insurance policy. Meir was on the hook for at least $5,000 a thirty day period, in addition to non-public faculty tuition, which he has not compensated, according to court docket filings.
Bartolacci alleges in court docket filings that Meir lied to the court in August about remaining equipped to pay out for these expenses. Meir was beforehand living at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Surfside.
Meir moved to South Florida after HFZ’s collapse in 2020, leaving powering a path of lawsuits and creditors. HFZ’s founder Ziel Feldman accused Meir of thieving tens of thousands and thousands of dollars from HFZ.
Bartolacci alleged in her divorce filing past calendar year that Meir deliberately kept her in the dark about lawful problems in which she was implicated, including a $13 million judgment. Meir denied the allegations at the time.
In latest months, Israeli businessman Yoav Harlap sought to impose sanctions on Meir for failing to comply with a judge’s orders, which incorporated the risk of jail time. Meir’s bankruptcy submitting delayed a hearing in the Harlap situation previous week. Harlap has an $18.5 million judgment from Meir.
But right up until this week, the lawsuits have all been civil in nature.
The D.A. also billed HFZ Money, Omnibuild principal John Mingione, director of accounting Kevin Stewart, project govt Roy Galifi, previous HFZ controlling director of construction Anthony Marone and former HFZ senior project government Louis Della-Peruta in the alleged scheme on Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege they stole from HFZ investors, subcontractors and New York City. The projects associated provided The Xi, a luxury apartment advancement on the Large Line, in accordance to the D.A.
The defendants are because of again in court docket in Could.
