Lohud reports that FBI agents raided several yeshiva locations in an ongoing fraud investigation looking into the misuse of federal E-Rate program funds
which are education technology dollars intended for computer and Internet access.
FBI agents and Rockland district attorney’s office investigators fanned out across Ramapo on Wednesday with search warrants demanding that vendors and yeshivas provide records and account for equipment allegedly bought by religious schools with millions in federal education technology dollars.
Agents descended around 1:30 p.m. on vendors at 21 and 29 Robert Pitt Drive, Monsey; 161 Route 59, Monsey; and 386 Route 59, Airmont to seize records.
The raids began to spread in the late afternoon to yeshivas in the Monsey area. A group of FBI agents were seen outside a yeshiva at 93, 95 and 97 Highview Avenue, all converted single-family homes. They would not comment.
At the Yeshiva High School of Monsey on College Road on Wednesday afternoon, two investigators standing inside a garage that had been converted into a classroom were looking through an opened safe as they took notes. A reporter was asked to leave the grounds. Students in the backyard tossed a football around as investigators did their work.
FBI and district attorney’s office detectives also were at a yeshiva at 72 Route 306, a dark brick building with a small circular driveway.
The FBI-led raids are part of an investigation into whether Rockland yeshivas properly spent money obtained through the federal government’s E-Rate program, which came into existence in 1998 and today allocates more than $4 billion annually for computer and Internet access across the nation. Some of the raids were also carried out in the ultra-Orthodox community of Kiryas Joel in Orange County.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said: “Today, the FBI, working with our office, conducted searches in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation. If and when charges are filed, they will eventually become public. This remains an ongoing matter, and we are unable to provide any additional information at this time.”
(hat tip: Testing123)
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen something like this. It was only in December 2014 when Chabad of California’s head, Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, was found to have misused federal funds.
Judge fines Chabad of Calif. $845,000, says group misused federal grant with ‘reckless disregard’
Chafraud-Depravitch 
An internet connection? Chas v’Shalom!
Fraud? Of course! How is a Yeshiva graduate with minimal limudei chol supposed to earn a parnosah! & provide for a large family?
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I have no idea what you said, but I’m certain if I knew Hebrew I would have loved it!
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A lot of ppl are gonna be arrested . Don’t mess up with the FBI . In order to make a raid , the FBI must have investigated for a long time and built up a
juicy case . I can’t wait to see who were arrested . It is getting juicy everyday with the frum communities , better than a movie , bc it’s live !
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It’s gonna be a long time before anyone is arrested. But when it does happen, y’all come on over for pizza while we watch the news.
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BTW…for what reason would you call the police…
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On Apr 1, 2016 6:19 PM, “Mitch Paul” wrote:
Please do…when can I come to your office and share my insight
On Apr 1, 2016 6:18 PM, “Ed Wittenberg” wrote:
If you contact me again, I am calling the police.
From: Mitch Paul [shakercyclew5@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 12:23 PM
To: Ed Wittenberg
Subject: Fraud
These people are Crooks.. Read carefully
Please help expose these goniffs….math not difficult. 2163551624.my number .. These people responsible for billions of charitable funds.
These Jews at the top of Jewish leadership forgot ‘though shall not steal!’
Some folks saw an opportunity to capitalize on hate and fear…our basic desire for security.
North American Jewish federations leadership set up ‘Secure COMMUNITY network’ (read Forward story linked below) Ein# 20- 1437733 check guidestar for instance to allegedly protect all jews..certainly the members of their organizations, from terror.
I have discovered they had other motivation. The grants mostly from North America Jewish federations but many other clearly exceeds the amount of grants ‘secure community network’ has claimed to have received.
Another charitable fraud for Clevelanders, my hometown, at our Jewish federation with Stephen HOFFMAN at the till (helm)with accomplices Malcolm Hoenlein,Robert Sugarman and David Harris who was paid one and a half millions last year…. group north American Jewish federations paid nearly all(350 and 450,000$ to support secure community network alone),of secure community networks claimed income. 450,000 $ alone is more than they have ever claimed. MANY other Jewish federations have also donated, look at the board membership… All thieves…. Malcolm hoenlein is one the highest paid Jewish leaders over 600 thousands… Wrote letter to William Rapfogels (who stole 9+ millions from NY Jewish Poverty charity) federal judge asking for leniency because William was hard up only making 450,000$ poor fellow…. Also raised most of the restitution for the poor thief so he wouldn’t have to dip into the proceeds of his crimes to pay his court ordered restitution… Lots of other Jewish leaders also wrote letters to the judge… They are all suspect. Hadassah in addition has paid over a million dollars to secure community networks’ subcontractor ‘public safety strategies group ‘ my efforts to inform them of their duplicate payments has earned me a threatening letter from their attorney…. Find such payments to ‘public safety strategy group ‘in the category contractors over 100,000$. As members of the the’ conference of presidents ‘ they should have received those services already. The Hadassah 990s from 2010-3 list ‘public safety ‘. In 2010 they paid 360,000. More than they received from the rest of the Jewish community represented by north American Jewish federations and the’ conference ‘.
Him and his buddies Stephen Hoffman (850,000) and David Harris set up this phony charity.. ‘Secure community network’ to line thier own pockets. Not difficult to see that said charities 990 lists a lot less revenue from grants than was given to it.(ein#20-1437733).. Where is the rest? Was the huge 69,000$ insurance expense on your last 990 possibly from century insurance Rapfogels partner in crime. Why was there not an insurance expense in the previous 2 990s??. Why is the 2014 990 still not filed? Why is your longtime accountant Loeb and troper no longer employed?
Hope these Crooks use the traditional sincere Japanese method of apology rather than further burden society with the cost of their incarceration.
http://forward.com/news/217929/how-a-secret-charity-helps-jewish-groups-feel-safe/
Have been posting this widely with no effort by leadership to defend themselve. The numbers just don’t add up.
Also at Hoenlein’s 2 ‘cops’ charities.(one ends in fund) Add both together and the benefits vs other salaries is ridiculous. 2012 salaries for others 208,469….benefits 179,689. 86%~. Normally around 15%.
Look at all the years and check the disparity in 990 statements.
It’s bizarre. Usually much greater continuity.
The willingness of these accountants like Loeb.troper . and donors Is directly linked to the constant assertions of multiple levels of oversight.ie it’s squeaky kosher…ie you can trust us.
Brilliant Jewish nonprofit leadership trying to squeeze every drop of charitable donations into their needy clients larder.
Or the opposite as we saw with Rapfogel?
This will make Rapfogels case look small.
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