Ex-HFZ Developer Nir Meir Jailed, Facing Extradition

Nir Meir, the embattled former HFZ Capital executive, has been arrested in Miami-Dade County and is facing extradition to New York.

Meir was booked into jail at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami late Monday on an out-of-state fugitive warrant. He faces charges of grand larceny and tax fraud in New York, according to a copy of the fugitive warrant that was obtained by The Real Deal.

Meir was arrested at the 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach, where he had been living. Meir has the right to contest the extradition under Florida law.

This comes days after Meir filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida.

Meir’s attorney did not return a request to comment.

Meir was second in charge at one of New York’s most prominent condo developers. But in 2020, HFZ collapsed and Meir left.

Since then, Meir has dodged lawsuits and creditors for three years while living large in Miami Beach. Meir’s former business partner Ziel Feldman accused Meir of stealing tens of millions from the company and causing the company’s demise. Feldman also accused Meir of stealing a Hamptons home owned by HFZ Capital.

Meir’s legal troubles have heightened in recent months. Israeli businessman Yoav Harlap, who had a $18.5 million judgment against Meir, sought to impose sanctions on Meir for failing to abide by the judge’s orders. Meir allegedly failed to purge contempt orders for moving over $1 million out of restrained accounts. The sanctions included the possibility of jail time.

Harlap’s lawsuit accused Meir of spending about $150,000 per month on a waterfront Miami Beach estate, and $1.5 million on gold, chartering private jets and yachts, partying at strip clubs and staying at the Four Seasons resort in Surfside.

A hearing was scheduled for last week, but his bankruptcy petition delayed the hearing. Meir claimed to have just $50 to his name and $30 million in liabilities.

The bankruptcy also impacted Meir’s contentious divorce from his estranged wife Ranee Bartolacci, who alleged that Meir kept her in the dark about legal troubles, including a $13 million judgment and contempt orders placed against her. Meir has denied the allegations.