Taxi Drivers Caught Illegally Picking Up Fares At Airports

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown (at podium) is shown announcing the arrest of 18 unlicensed taxi drivers for illegally hustling passengers at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. Pictured looking on (from left to right) are NYC Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew W. Daus, Port Authority Police Department Capt. Joseph Scarano, PAPD Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko and Port Authority Executive Director Christopher O. Ward. Trying to pick up fares without proper licensing at John F. Kennedy and La- Guardia airports proved to be costly for three local cab drivers who were among a slew of hacks busted by police during a sting operation last Monday, Nov. 23, it was reported.

In all, 18 allegedly unlicensed taxi drivers were arrested by members of the Port Authority Police Department during the crackdown aimed at combating livery drivers who hustle arriving passengers at the two airports for rides into Brooklyn, Manhattan and other parts of the city.

Among the individuals charged as part of the crackdown include the following local residents:

• Albin A. Duran, 28, of Stephen Street in Ridgewood, who was arrested after allegedly offering to drive a customer from JFK to Manhattan for $50.

• Earl C. Govan, 48, of Horace Harding Expressway in Corona, who reportedly offered to drive a passenger from Kennedy Airport to a Brooklyn location for $35.

• Alberto Heridea, 51, of Bleecker Street in Bushwick, who allegedly offered to drive a passenger from JFK to Brooklyn for $40.

All of the suspects caught during the crackdown last Monday were variously charged with with unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services, third-degree criminal trespassing and trespass.

The charges were announced during a press conference at Kennedy Airport last Tuesday, Nov. 24, by Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Port Authority Executive Director Christopher O. Ward and New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Matthew W. Daus.

In a statement, District Attorney Brown noted that the enforcement operation came on the heels of a bill recently signed into law by Gov. David Paterson which increased the penalties for individuals convicted of unlawfully soliciting ground transportation at New York State’s airports. The crime is now classified as a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,250.

“For too long, unregulated taxis and unscrupulous drivers—who are not properly licensed and who do not carry appropriate insurance—have put passengers at serious risk,” said District Attorney Brown. “This legislation should go a long way toward putting an end to the days when airport hustlers accepted paying a minimal fine simply as a cost of doing business.”

According to the charges, each of the cab drivers busted in the crackdown allegedly attempted to pick up passengers arriving at Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. Reportedly, they offered to drive passengers to points in Brooklyn for fees between $25 and $40, and Manhattan locations for fares from $35 to $80.

In most cases, law enforcement sources said, the defendants had been previously warned by Port Authority police not to enter or remain outside airport terminals for the purpose of picking up potential fares.

Brown pointed to two recent airport hustling cases which he observed demonstrated the need for increased penalties against unlicensed cab drivers who are caught picking up passengers at local air- ports.

In January, 53-year-old Garret C. Smith of Conyers, Ga. was busted by Port Authority Police as he tried to pick up passengers leaving the International Arrivals Terminal at JFK. When Port Authority P.O. Jamie Alexandersen approached him to make the arrest, prosecutors said, Smith fell to the ground, taking the officer with him.

As a result of the fall, Alexandersen suffered a torn ligament to his knee, an injury that has kept him out of work since the incident. Smith pled guilty on Nov. 19 to charges of second-degree assault and is expected to be ordered to serve five months in prison and five years’ probation when he is sentenced on Jan. 28, 2010.

Regarding the second case, two Brooklyn men—Khaalif Preacher, 27, of Pacific Street and Ian McFarlane, 57, of East 35th Street—allegedly picked up five unsuspecting French tourists at the Air France terminal at Kennedy Airport in June and held them against their will as they led police on a seven-mile pursuit through Queens and Brooklyn.

Reportedly, the two men attempted to flee from the law after Port Authority Police spotted them picking up the passengers at the airport. Preacher pled guilty on Oct. 8 to first-degree reckless endangerment and is expected to be sentenced today, Thursday, Dec. 3, to six months in jail and five years’ probation. McFarlane is currently awaiting trial.

The crackdown was conducted by members of the Port Authority Police Department, which is led by Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko.

Assistant District Attorney Catherine C. Kane, chief of the D.A.’s Airport Investigations Unit within the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, is prosecuting the cases under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard A. Brave, bureau chief, and Mark L. Katz, deputy bureau chief.