FILE -   Businessman Evgeny A. Freidman attends the UJA-Federation of New York's Russian Leadership Division's Charity Ball at The Bowery Hotel June 3, 2009 in New York City.  (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
FILE – Businessman Evgeny A. Freidman attends the UJA-Federation of New York’s Russian Leadership Division’s Charity Ball at The Bowery Hotel June 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

 

New York – A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that one of New York City’s top yellow cab operators must give up 46 coveted taxi medallions.

Evgeny (yehv-GEH-nee) Freidman is referred to by New York’s tabloids as the so-called Taxi King. He owns more than 800 such lucrative city-auctioned medallions and various companies that manage a fleet of taxis.

But the Daily News  reports Saturday a judge ruled he must hand over the medallions and taxis to his creditors by Jan. 9.

The 44-year-old Freidman filed for bankruptcy this summer.

He has been sued in state court by Citibank which says it lent him millions of dollars in loans that have not been repaid.

The value of Taxi and Limousine Commission-issued medallions has dropped with the rise of app-based ride-sharing companies.

As reported by Vos Iz Neias