BRISBANE, Australia—When art dealer Ron Coles disappeared amid charges of fraud 10 months ago, newspapers speculated that he had taken as much as $30 million in clients’ cash and paintings with him. Now, Coles, who has been found living in New South Wales, Australia, says that he is broke and driving a taxi.

Coles is believed to have knowingly sold fake paintings to clients and also sold the same work to multiple people. His multimillion-dollar business crumbled last year as allegations of fraud surfaced and police discovered fake paintings among his holdings.

Though he refused to reveal details, Coles told the Brisbane Times that he is a “good man” and insisted that he will be able to defend himself soon. “'There is a story … but it is just not the story that has been going [in the media],'' he said.

Coles says that he has liquidated all of his assets to pay off creditors and now has been left with nothing. He says that he is able to earn around $700 a week driving a cab at night. Police say they are continuing their investigation into the alleged fraud.

Read more at the Brisbane Times.