The following is via the AP wire, and is currently a national story, published on hundreds of news websites and newspapers around the country.
More than a year after 13 Orthodox Jewish couples were arrested and charged with underreporting income to qualify for welfare payments, no indictments have been handed up.
Authorities tell The Asbury Park Press that’s because the cases are complex. Normally, indictments follow the filing of charges by about four months. Prosecutors alleged the couples illegally obtained nearly $2 million in benefits by misrepresenting their income and failing to disclose income from numerous sources on applications for Medicaid, housing, Social Security and food assistance benefits.
The arrests raised tensions in the town of Lakewood, which has seen a large influx of ultra-Orthodox Jewish families. Incidents of vandalism were reported after the charges were announced in late June 2017. Flyers posted on cars around the town cited the arrests, and someone posted a banner containing an anti-Jewish slur on a Holocaust memorial in front of a synagogue.
Local officials said the arrests also created fear among some residents about participating in welfare programs. But while state officials reported a decrease in enrollment of about 2,600 people in the months after the arrests, Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles told the newspaper that demand for housing programs remains the same. The U.S. Census estimates about one-third of township residents live below poverty level.
Edward Bertucio, an attorney representing one of the defendants, told the newspaper the length of time since the arrests indicates “the government does not have a case.”
About half of the couples who were charged will seek to avoid jail by repaying the benefits and satisfying other conditions under a pretrial diversion program available to first-time offenders, according to the newspaper.
(AP)
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19 Responses
Instead of making of making it sound like some dubious plot by “orthodox jews”, put the last paragraph first and then you would know the real story.
About half of the couples who were charged will seek to avoid jail by repaying the benefits and satisfying other conditions under a pretrial diversion program available to first-time offenders, according to the newspaper.
This paragraph is the whole story.
If you are a person without a good background in accounting or bookkeeping, and you misunderstand the laws and regulations, you are probably not criminally liable (though you still owe the money). While ignorance of the law is not an excuse (maybe), ignorance of facts indicates lack of criminal intent. American prosecutors do have a history of issuing damaging press statement not supported by evidence at trial.
Hooray! YWN does it again!!!
you might want to mention how many finee yidden signed up for the amnesty program offered, admitted previous violations, vowed to make voluntary repayment and are barred from future programs. the mishnah already warned about torah she’ain imho melakha.
It was my understanding that these people pled out and took the amnesty deal. Are they still collecting benefits will awaiting indictments?
DrYidd, I agree with all you are saying except for “fine yidden”. Whether guilty or not, “fine yidden” is not the appropriate verbiage for their choices and situation. Wiser to not use any negative or positive terms to illustrate them.
“About half of the couples who were charged will seek to avoid jail by repaying the benefits and satisfying other conditions under a pretrial diversion program available to first-time offenders, according to the newspaper.”
If they’re paying to avoid trial doesn’t that indicate that they realized they couldn’t win? That’s the same as admitting guilt – you don’t pay lots of money to get out of an indictment you can beat. The ones who think they have a chance, whether they do or not, are holding out for indictment and trial. Remember that it can be hard to get witnesses when they are afraid of committing, or being seen to commit, mesira.
The whole mess did have a positive aspect – lots of people participated in the amnesty program, and evidently some people were discouraged from trying to game the system.
What we need, especially for younger or less experienced families, is an official legal advisor forthe community who will tell people applying exactly what is and what isn’t legal, and how to document things properly. The rabbonim could insist that people applying should consult with them. That way a lot of people would be properly informed, and there wouldn’t be any need for amnesty programs (or indictments).
why even post this article and bring this back up again? what exactly is the point…from a Jewish perspective that is….obviously from a nonjewish one no reason to care not to.
@midwest12
“If they’re paying to avoid trial doesn’t that indicate that they realized they couldn’t win? That’s the same as admitting guilt”
That is 100% incorrect. Sometimes you accept a plea when the cost of fighting the legal system would outweigh the plea even when you are certain that you would win – fighting the government costs a lot of $. Or to some people the mental anguish of a trial is worth more than accepting a plea.
I was an employee by a company that went under. The creditors went after every employee that received a check (salary) within three months of going bankrupt. My attorney told me that I would 100% win but my legal fees would outweigh paying the creditors, so that’s what I did.
The comments on this thread absolutely shock with all the anti orthodox sentiment. I would expect to see them on other sites but not here.
tgishabbos, i use finee yiden because of how they are treated by the community. such finee yiden, even convivyed felons, sit oubin une, which reflects poorly onus yiden
Dr. Yidd, if we are quoting the Mishnah, I have another quote for you:
Kol haposel bemo posel
I like how you posted that this was posted on hundreds of news websites around the country before you began the beginning of this article do you feel less guilty posting it?? shame on you ywn looking to rationalize things
Why does a frum website see the need to post articles that highlight negativity in Klal Yisrael? I understand if something is newsworthy people may feel the need to be informed, but this is last years news! What good can possibly come out of republishing a hit piece from the AP?!?
Lost in Lakewood , there is only a plea of guilty or not guilty. Even your wording says it “Sometimes you accept a plea “—- in your case, that plea is guilty.
You are correct in stating that there are many times it is easier, financially cheaper, and less stressful to just pay the fine/intended penalty; but doing so is a plea of guilty. When I received a $25 parking ticket for my car parked at 8:57AM in a ‘no parking after 9:00AM’ zone- easier and cheaper than missing hours of pay at work and a wasted morning in court I checked off “guilty” and paid the $25. Were you and I truly guilty in our actions? most probably not. How did we both plea? guilty!
Pony
August 1, 2018 8:58 am at 8:58 am
Why does a frum website see the need to post articles that highlight negativity in Klal Yisrael? I understand if something is newsworthy people may feel the need to be informed, but this is last years news! What good can possibly come out of republishing a hit piece from the AP?!?
———————————
The cycle of the chumash takes a full year.
Every year we read about mechiras yosef. Every year we read about the eitz hadas. Every year we read about moshe breaking the luchos etc etc..
I dont see u complaining about the need to rehash the nagative on kllal yisroel from what we read about the previous.
Unless of course you do have issie with it , we just dont know about it.
Perhaps some people take their cue from the fact that annually we read about Dasan and Aviram and they get inspired.
dr nat. i assume you missed the course on relevant. my quote is relevant; your’s is an ad hominem attack i have come to expect from those who can only insult the other as opposed to debating a point.
@Takes2-2tango
We read the Chumash every year because it’s the dvar Hashem and we will be infinitely better by studying all tremendous lessons we can get out of it.
The dvar of the AP is usually not worth mentioning the first time around, never mind regurgitating last years news as a news story. There was absolutely no point in publishing this story as far as I can see.
My main point is that a frum website has a responsibility. They need to ask themselves, will I be doing good by publishing this story or does it have the potential to further spread loshon horah and motzei shem ra. It can be used to be mikadesh shem shomayim berabim or ch”v the opposite.
Dr Yidd, my post is quite relevant. Sorry you missed the point. I’m not going to explain, I’ll just say again, kol haposel bemumo posel.
What’s more, from the overwhelming majority of program participants who did not apply for amnesty it is clear that you are incorrect in your holier than thou judgment calling. And most of the 13 cases were very weak.
It’s very sad when someone like you is so bothered by the fact that thousands of holy Jews want to dedicate a part of their lives to Hashem and the study of His holy Torah that he has nothing to do but to jump on the Asbury Park Press bandwagon without knowing any of the facts.
Is all of this relevant enough for you?