Brooklyn, NY – To Avoid Charges Ultra-Orthodox Man Promises To “Repay” Herzog Family In Extortion Scam

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    Elimelech Horowitz, Brooklyn man whose extortion of a wealthy Hasidic family was exposed by defense lawyer George Farkas. 32 Court street, Brooklyn,Thursday May 9, 2013.  Photo courtesy to VINNews.com by DEBBIE EGAN-CHIN/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSBrooklyn, NY – A Williamsburg Satmar Hasid has agreed to repay a prominent Orthodox family $35K after his phony extortion scheme was unearthed by a Brooklyn attorney hired by the family.

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    The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS (http://nydn.us/10DSzwj) is reporting that the Herzog family, known world-wide for their kosher wines, has agreed to withhold pressing charges against Elimelech Horowitz based on a promise from Horowitz that he’ll repay $35K paid by the Herzogs in a phony abduction scam engineered by Horowitz.

    Further complicating matters is that Horowitz’s scam was launched on the heels of what law enforcement officials say is a “pervasive” ongoing swindle within the Orthodox community in which fake charities and organizations funnel illegal funds back to waiting crooks in Israel.

    After sensing they’d been scammed by phony charities, the Herzogs froze their accounts and hired Horowitz to investigate the matter, after which, Horowitz, with help from an amateur accomplice, concocted a flimsy scam alleging he’d been kidnapped, and demanding $35K from the Herzogs for his release.

    Smelling yet another rat, the Herzogs hired prominent local attorney George Frakas to look into Horowitz.

    With minimal effort, Frakas said he soon had Horowitz admitting guilt.

    The extortion plot is not linked to any of the owners of the wine conglomerate despite the report of the NY Daily News. He is a member of the family and technically a shareholder, “Its a personal matter that is unrelated to the family or it’s business, a Kedem executive told VIN News.


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    74 Comments
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    FALLSBURGER
    FALLSBURGER
    10 years ago

    Would they ever write one of the following?

    A Crown Heights African American has agreed…
    A Bay Ridge Italian has agreed…
    A Brighton Beach Russian has agreed.
    A Brooklyn Arab has agreed….

    The bias is unbeleivable…

    No I’m not condoning this bum’s behavior , but the reporting is as terrible as can be…

    ShmutzVesh
    ShmutzVesh
    10 years ago

    Oy yoy nebech !! I am starting a collection for this horowitz guy!! Let’s all help him pay the herzogs back . It must have been the high costs of tuition. Let’s all blame the yeshivas now.

    SandmanNY
    SandmanNY
    10 years ago

    This is yet another bit of anecdotal evidence of what happens when members of the Chareidi community grow up without basic job and knowledge skills. The yetzer haroh takes what little they know and turns it against them. Busha.

    rationalsavta
    rationalsavta
    10 years ago

    BUSHA V’CHERPAH! ARE WE STILL MAMLECHET KOHANIM V’AM KADOSH?

    shoebox
    shoebox
    10 years ago

    Surprised they hired George Farkas as the lawyer…

    PowerUp
    PowerUp
    10 years ago

    This shows us that a jewish person has to be extra careful about his dealings not to make the “post” and cause a chilul hashem like this, but how did this get to the media?

    UseYourHead
    UseYourHead
    10 years ago

    This is what happens when people ignore the wise words of Chazal (no matter how great their intentions may be). “Whoever does not teach his son a trade, teaches him thievery.” It is as true today as it was back then!

    clear-thinker
    clear-thinker
    10 years ago

    What is $35,000 among friends? #1 ..What is your problem? What bias do you think it shows? Do you think that the photo and name could be mistaken for a Crown Heights African American, a Bay Ridge Italian etc? Perhaps you believe that frum Jews should not be informed of ongoing swindles. I am so happy that you do not condone this guys actions.

    Secular
    Secular
    10 years ago

    Parents, teach your son a trade!

    Otherwise he’ll grow up to be a thief.

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    10 years ago

    If only the accused would have realized the chilul Hashem he wouldn’t have concocted the scheme. The media loves bashing the orthodox and we certainly give them plenty of opportunities with these inept crooks and child molesters. Aren’t we supposed to be am Am Kodesh, and set an example?

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    10 years ago

    For a small community, Williamsburg sure makes the news a lot. There is something very wrong there. I honestly believe it has to do with a lack of (secular) education. These people have a dozen kids and no way to support them.
    Why isn’t the “REBBE” coming out and talking about this? Or is he too busy fighting with his brother?

    10 years ago

    We now know that the story the Post ran last week of the parking sign misplaced by Chassidim in Williamsburg reported by an MTA bus driver who allegedly witnessed with his own eyes are FALES, the Post jumped on the story bashing Williamsburg without spending 5 seconds to verify the story nor did they apologize when they wore proven wrong. Now again with a story against a Williamsburg chusid and you fall for it again, did any of you commentators verify the truth of this story? Do you know what the story was to begin with? But who cares!!! Shaming Chassidim whenever we can why not? Beside the point that “loshon Hora” is even if the story is thru, is VIN the same standard as the Post?

    OscarMadison
    OscarMadison
    10 years ago

    Is he going to repay the $35,000 along with the halachically-commanded extra 20% ($7000) to compensate his victim? Is a dime actually going to come out of his pocket or is there a fraud gemach now? Who sounds more pathetic, Haredi apologists or Christian apologists? What does a Haredi scream now when one of his own is caught committing fraud? Madoff! Madoff! Madoff!

    10 years ago

    from the picture it seems like this Horrowitz is going with (wearing) “sheefe tashen”. Is this an indication of something?

    Shoomie
    Shoomie
    10 years ago

    Everyone seems to be worried about Horowitz. And that’s good. But what about this other thing: “a “pervasive” ongoing swindle within the Orthodox community in which fake charities and organizations funnel illegal funds back to waiting crooks in Israel.” Does anyone know what that’s about? I want my tzedaka money going to the right places.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    10 years ago

    The question remains Why did he do it to begin with? GREED!!

    Sherree
    Sherree
    10 years ago

    We Jews hold ourselves on a higher madreigah because WE are the chosen people and our job is to be role models and to be a light onto the Nations. We are supposed to be the the ultimate believers that G-d DOES exit and that we do believe and abide by his Ten Commandments and HIS Torah! WE have no one else to blame but ourselves when the media holds us accountable. We have no right what-so-ever to pull the anti-semitism card. They are absolutely correct to shine the spotlight on our faults and phonies and demand that we are metakain ourselves!

    Wake up Yidden! They are doing us a favor. The only way for Mashiach to come is to force sinners and phonies to do teshuva! Stop looking at the not yet religious and pointing fingers at them! Each and every Religious Jew has to be metakain themselves before pointing their fingers at someone they think is on a lower madreigah than themselves. And then they should stop measuring. It is only by being the best possible Jew each individual can be and role modeling THAT emedsik behavior that WE can be metakain Olam and bring Mashiach.

    Hashem will weed out the phonies and allow them to b exposed. It is not by accident that they are coming to light. And no matter how hard the Rabbonim are fighting this it is Hashem’s will and it will be as HE CHOOSES. HE will weed out the evil amongst us! Because WE are incapable of judging and policing our own.

    MarkTwain2
    MarkTwain2
    10 years ago

    If Dov Lipman can implement his plan, incidents such as these will drastically decrease.

    RAPHAELLIFE1
    RAPHAELLIFE1
    10 years ago

    i just got kidnapped, I’m ok with 10 grand.

    anyone pls ?

    10 years ago

    He should be prosecuted. What if he pulls this again and the victims actually give him money and then he spends it?

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    10 years ago

    #44
    I know about the great work they do. I am a big supporter of Satmar Bikur Colim and they are great. But I think you are the exception and not the rule.
    I am proud of you and keep up the good work.

    ez11219
    ez11219
    10 years ago

    To all of you “Hasid Haters”

    I personally know this Horowitz and he’s a real Mentch. This story does not begin to make any sense and must have been a set up by someone.

    leahle
    leahle
    10 years ago

    I don’t think the issue is whether the uneducated commit more crimes than the educated. To me, the issue is that Hashem didn’t create two types of human beings, frum and secular. Regardless of whether one person observes more mitzvot than another, a certain percentage of all people will lie, steal, assault, and murder. No one should be surprised by this.

    myownopinion
    myownopinion
    10 years ago

    And the prize for best comment goes to…drumroll please… 51#
    “I personally know this Horowitz and he’s a real Mentch. This story does not begin to make any sense and must have been a set up by someone.”

    MaidofCH
    MaidofCH
    10 years ago

    (To #24 , 56)

    I really would love to get ahold of the names of these “charities” so I can avoid them in the future.

    While in the past I felt good giving tzedakah, I have of late been feeling used & played for a sap. (I’m not the only one.) I really want to limit my ma’aser to organizations that:

    1) Are above board as far as where the money goes
    2) Send money to the truly needy.
    3) Are well managed.

    As it is now, I no longer answer the phone (& probably soon the doorbell) unless I know the caller.

    lincoln12
    lincoln12
    10 years ago

    The Herzog Family is one of the wealthiest Hasidic Families in the world and they give a ton of charity to many causes everywhere, They dont show it at all .

    yklbp
    yklbp
    10 years ago

    The chassidic clothing is supposed to indicate holiness and moral superiority.
    When someone makes a chillul hashem he should be forced to shave his beard and payos take off his hat and bekesha and start doing things to earn them back… same with the yeshivish.. Kolko should be wearing jeans and a t shirt…

    10 years ago

    I know this Horowitz in he. Is NOT a satmer chosid can I know why they say he. Is satmer