Orange County, NY – The FBI and several local law enforcement departments are raiding multiple locations in the village of Kiryas Joel.
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Authorities are tight lipped on the specifics about the ongoing blitz.
One of the locations where agents have been seen stationed is the same school where a principal is under investigation after videos surfaced online showing a head teacher engaged in inappropriate behavior and possible abuse involving a student.
It is unclear if the current raid is related to that video or to previous FBI investigations of possible fraud involving the federal E-Rate technology funding in Rockland County and in Williamsburg or possible irregularities involving school lunch programs as previously reported on VIN News (http://goo.gl/c5e1E4).
Agents were also seen outside the headquarters of Kiryas Joel’s Department of Public Safety.
FBI spokeswoman Kelly Langmesser at the bureau’s New York office declined to comment other than to confirm there was an ongoing operation in Kiryas Joel.
Captain Scott Hamill of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told VIN News that the raid was being conducted by the FBI’s regional office based out of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh but declined to comment on the operation, saying only that personnel from his office were providing assistance to the FBI.
Representatives from the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office were also spotted with federal agents. Sullivan County District Attorney James Farrell was not available and did not return repeated calls for comment.
News 12 is reporting that officials confirm that search warrants are being executed at this time and agents wearing jackets bearing the words “FBI Cyber Task Force” were seen removing boxes from the search targets. According to The Journal News, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office had no comment on today’s activities in Kiryas Joel.
Updates to follow on this developing story.
where there is smoke there is fire but in KJ there is a conflagaration or wild fire. There has to be dozens arrested to bring justice.
I heard they’re looking for people who may have eaten matzos on erev Pesach.
And all this on Yom haaztmaus
Interesting that the FBI raid is unfolding as Israel celebrates its 68th birthday.
Oy gevalt siz mamesh a shande far de yiddin.
They’re looking for contraband tziyoini materials.
since Satmar does not celebrate Yom Ha’aztmaot, so it is permissible to raid their offices on this day.
“It is unclear if the current raid is related to that video or to previous FBI investigations of possible fraud involving the federal E-Rate technology funding in Rockland County and in Williamsburg or possible irregularities involving school lunch programs as previously reported on VIN News”
Nobody really cares about sexual abuse. It is likely to be something involving the government’s money.
Kiryas Joel is the “poorest” town in America yet looks stunning, bec. almost all work off the books and commit Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, Section 8, Obama phone, E-rate, wire and tax fraud.
Oy vie izz meer. Goonish git vett kimmen fin daym.
Keep up the good work, Preet.
You have hundreds of us feeding you tips and you’re listening. Kj has the most 80 thousand dollars kitchens in NY. And they’re all on welfare on my dime.
Whatever the outcome here, it should be ensured that all staff in all schools are trained about appropriate boundaries and contact.