Passaic, NJ – New Jersey Jewish Child Therapist Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation

    17

    (Jewish Family Service & Children's Center of Clifton-Passaic)Passaic, NJ – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ELLIOT HALBERSTAM was arrested today and charged in a criminal complaint with three counts stemming from his sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor and his receipt of child pornography.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Elliot Halberstam is charged with violating the trust of his former patient, a 16-year old boy, in the worst way imaginable – he allegedly coerced and tricked the victim into engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and captured it on video and in photographs. Together with our partners at the FBI, we are dedicated to ensuring that those who sexually exploit children are held to account.”

    FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said: “As alleged, Halberstam violated the trust of a minor who was a former patient of his in counseling, by coercing the victim to engage in sexual activity with him and film it. The FBI will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who sexually exploit our children.”

    According to the Complaint:

    Beginning in March 2015, HALBERSTAM, a child therapist, coerced and enticed a 16-year-old boy who was a former patient of his (“Victim-1”) to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and received images and videos constituting child pornography from Victim-1. To do so, HALBERSTAM groomed Victim-1 through numerous email and text messages, including by posing as another individual to entice Victim-1 to produce and send child pornography to HALBERSTAM and to allow HALBERSTAM to photograph Victim-1.

    HALBERSTAM, 38, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, is charged with one count of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

    There may be more victims of this alleged conduct. Any individuals who believe they have information concerning ELLIOT HALBERSTAM that may be relevant to the investigation should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

    Halberstam, is listed as an assistant director with Jewish Family Service & Children’s Center of Clifton-Passaic. During a court hearing Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Manhattan, Halberstam was ordered held without bail.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    17 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    8 years ago

    Again??? Who is going to say this guy is “the nicest person on the block” first? Or because he doesn’t have a beard you’ll be OK this time?

    These people are trusted to HELP our kids, not abuse them and destroy them even more. Hang this creep out to dry – let him get 30 years. Too bad on his family, this is what needs to happen to perverts – they lose everything. If they don’t think about what this does to their families, why should we?

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    8 years ago

    If proven true, no Jew of any level of observance should make excuses for this deviant behavior. Sadly if he were part of certain communities, there would be efforts made to hide the problem or worse yet blame the victim (s). Hopefully the full force of the legal system will bring justice for victims.

    Realist77
    Realist77
    8 years ago

    As a licensed Clinical Social Worker that specializes in treating children and adolescents this type of behavior sickens me. They amount of trauma that is caused takes years to repair. This teenager and his parents trusted this professional. It totally sickens me.

    8 years ago

    Among our people in New Square and KJ, the kids go to therapy with unlicensed therapists. We’ll never know what really happens behind closed doors. And when the kids do discuss what really happens, parents are shunned and have to move.

    Realist77
    Realist77
    8 years ago

    They go to ” Eitza Givers”, people that ” You can shmooze with”. Unfortunately many times the unlicensed “therapist” do more harm than good. They might have the best of intentions but lack the training, and license oversight by a professional board. They do get great ” Hechshers” by the local Rabbonim because they know that they will not report to the authorities what needs to be reported ( cases of abuse, neglect, etc..) In NY it is quite easy to find out of the person is licensed. Go to the NY state office of professions. NJ has a licensing board as well that you can verify the license.

    Realist77
    Realist77
    8 years ago

    Licenses guarantee you that the licensee has met the state requirements ( School work, work experience, supervision, passed the exams, and competency) to perform those services under your profession. The licensing board also requires you to have continuing education credits, and they hold you accountable for the services rendered. As with any job, there are those that are dishonest and those that are not competent. As a trained and licensed therapist, you are taught and trained to maintain strict guidelines and boundaries with your patient and the parents.