Cabbies Busted For Illegally Hustling Passengers
Posted on Tuesday, 24 of November , 2009 at 7:05 pm
QUEENS—A joint crackdown on unlicensed taxi drivers who illegally hustle passengers at New York City’s two major airports has resulted in 18 individuals being charged with the illegal solicitation of ground transportation.
The crackdown comes in the wake of Gov. David A. Paterson signing a bill into law last month which increased penalties for unlawfully soliciting ground transportation at an airport.
The defendants allegedly illegally offered arriving passengers at JFK and LaGuardia Airports their services as ground transportation for hire, charging fees of $25 to $40 for destinations in Brooklyn and from between $35 and $80 for destinations in Manhattan. In most cases, the defendants previously had been warned not to enter or remain in the airports for the purpose of offering ground transportation services
The defendants were variously charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services, third-degree criminal trespass and trespass. If convicted, they each face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown cited two recent airport hustling cases that he says clearly highlighted the need to elevate Section of 1220-b of the Vehicle and Traffic Laws, as well as the need to crack down on unlicensed taxi drivers who solicit unwitting passengers at our airports:
• On Nov. 19, Garret C. Smith, 53, of Conyers, Ga., pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, a class D felony, and admitted that, on Jan. 6, he was at the International Arrivals Terminal at JFK Airport and illegally soliciting taxi passengers.
Smith further admitted that when Port Authority Police Officer Jamie Alexandersen approached to arrest him, he (Smith) fell to the ground, taking Officer Alexandersen with him and causing Officer Alexandersen to sustain a line of duty injury – a torn ligament to his knee – which has kept him out of work since the incident.
Smith is to be sentenced on Jan. 28, at which time he is expected to be sentenced to five months in jail, five years’ probation and ordered to enroll in a counseling program.
• In June, Khaalif Preacher, 27, of 1384 Pacific St., and Ian L. McFarlane, 57, of 285 East 35th St., both of Brooklyn, were charged with steering five unsuspecting French tourists to their unauthorized van service outside JFK’s Air France terminal and then holding them against their will as the van raced approximately seven miles through sections of Queens and Brooklyn in an attempt to escape pursuing police vehicles. The tourists’ harrowing journey began when Port Authority police officers attempted to cite the defendants for “hustling” passengers at the airport.
Preacher pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony, on Oct. 8, and is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation when he is sentenced on Dec. 3. The case against McFarlane is presently pending trial.
The 18 defendants are:
Khurran Butt, 34, of 104 Collias St., Stroudburg, PA, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $60.
Eduin G. Castro, 45, of 127-20 25th Ave., College Point, Queens, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $45.
Albin A. Duran, 28, of 1738 Stephen St., Ridgewood, Queens, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $50.
Silfredo F. Ferreira, 41, of 562 West 186th St., Manhattan, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to the Bronx for $50.
Earl C. Govan, 48, of 98-17 Horace Harding Boulevard in Corona, Queens, has been charged unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $35.
Alberto Heridea, 51, of 435 Bleecker St., Brooklyn, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $40.
Feliz R. Mejia, 62, of 27436 Highway 23 in Grand Gorge, (Delaware County), has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $45.
Debray R. Nunez, 38, of 142-10 Hoover Ave., Jamaica, Queens, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $45.
Arona R. Ortiz, 37, of 2290 University Ave., Bronx, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $40.
Yadpdoa; P. Ramsundar, 56, of 50 Ridge Place in Yonkers, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Woodmere, Long Island, for $30.
John P. Ramunni, 58, of 3908 Maplewood Drive in Seaford, has been charged with third degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $50.
Abdullah Y. Salym, 49, of 473 Kings Highway in Brooklyn, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $35.
Mamerto E. Santos, 51, of 385 South 2nd St. in Brooklyn, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Lexington Avenue in Manhattan for $85.
Geogia Simonyan, 49, OF 315 Hamden Ave. in Staten island, has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for a fee.
Jose A. Torres, 60, of 311 East 178 St. in the Bronx, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $45.
Robert L. Vogt, 63, of 283 Hempstead Gardens in West Hempstead, L.I., has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Manhattan for $45.
Andres Umanzor-Villator, 44, of 1155 South Ave. in Stratford, CT has been charged with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $25.
Guang M. Zheng, 46, of 48 Greene Ave. in Norwich, CT, has been charged with third-degree criminal trespass, unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services and trespass for allegedly offering to drive a passenger from LaGuardia to Manhattan for $45. 11-24-09
Category: Business, Courts, Crime, New York State
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