Watertown cab driver accused of extorting fares from Fort Drum soldiers

Watertown cab driver accused of extorting extra fares from Fort Drum soldiers
By Robert A. Baker / The Post-Standard
Published: Friday, January 14, 2011

Syracuse, NY -- A Watertown taxi driver is facing a felony after he was accused by Syracuse police of scamming soldiers trying to get from Syracuse Hancock International Airport to Fort Drum.
Michael B. Lavery, 37, of 8417 Willow St., Evans Mills, a driver for Phenix Cab Co. of Watertown, was charged with grand larceny.
Sgt. Tom Connellan gave the following details:
On Jan. 3, several soldiers stationed at Fort Drum were waiting for a shuttle back to the base after flying into the airport. Because of the long wait, a soldier contacted Phenix Cab Co. to find out the fare to the base and was quoted a price of $90. The soldier informed the cab company that there were three going to the base for the $90 fare.
When Lavery arrived, he solicited another two soldiers to join the cab ride with the agreement that $90 would cover all five.
When the cab arrived at the Northern New York base, Lavery told the five that the price was $90 per person and that they owed him $450, not $90.
During the discussion on the rate for the ride, Lavery threatened to have the five arrested and called the military police. When the MPs arrived, Lavery told them he increased the amount for the trip because he had to drive through bad weather. When MPs said the rate sounded excessive, Lavery said he didn’t care and threatened the soldiers with criminal charges. Knowing that criminal charges could hurt their military careers, the soldiers paid the $450.
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Watertown cab driver accused of extorting