Two rival jewelry business owners became involved in a physical altercation on West 47th Street in Manhattan on January 2, 2026, following accusations of product fraud and business deception. The incident, which was recorded and shared on social media, has drawn attention to ongoing tensions within the diamond and jewelry trade.
Story Highlights
- A physical dispute erupted between the owner of TraxNYC and the owners of Akay Diamonds.
- NYC’s Diamond District on January 2, 2026.
- Maksud Agadjani (TraxNYC) confronted George and Freddy Akay (Akay Diamonds) over alleged consumer fraud and unauthorized use of the TraxNYC brand.
- George and Freddy Akay were arrested and charged with assault by the New York City police.
Incident in Manhattan’s Diamond District
On January 2, 2026, a confrontation occurred at Akay Diamonds on West 47th Street in Manhattan between Maksud Agadjani, the owner of TraxNYC, and George and Freddy Akay, the owners of Akay Diamonds. The dispute, which escalated to a physical struggle, was prompted by Agadjani’s allegations of fraud and deceptive business practices.
Rival NYC Diamond District jewelers get into wild caught-on-camera brawl over fraud allegations https://t.co/snFinDiaX5 pic.twitter.com/tMUwPJkqB6
— New York Post (@nypost) January 3, 2026
Agadjani stated that his visit was the culmination of an investigation into Akay Diamonds for allegedly claiming their jewelry was manufactured by TraxNYC to leverage his brand’s reputation. The core allegation centered on a specific transaction where a customer was allegedly sold a bracelet marketed as 14-karat gold with VVS-grade diamonds, but which Agadjani claims was in fact 10-karat gold (or as low as 9-karat) with I3-grade lab diamonds. Agadjani also presented a receipt that he claimed was forged to look like a TraxNYC document. He is publicly seeking $22,000 from the Akay brothers, the amount he stated he personally refunded to the customer.
TraxNYC vs Akay Diamonds: 22K Gold Scam Sparks Viral Confrontation in NYC
According to a report filed by Agadjani, the altercation began after one of the Akay brothers allegedly spat in his face. In the ensuing physical exchange, Agadjani stated that he was overwhelmed and suffered injuries.
Legal and Public Response
The New York City Police Department arrested George Akay (46) and Freddy Akay (42), charging both men with assault. Maksud Agadjani received medical attention at Bellevue Hospital for neck and minor injuries following the incident.
Agadjani has publicly called for individuals who conducted business with “Akay Booth” to seek a full refund plus 10%, claiming they were provided appraisals with forged GIA gemologist credentials. The incident, captured on video, has been widely circulated on social media platforms.
It got outta hands at TraxNYC jewelry
Sources
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