The New York State Attorney General, Eric T. Schneiderman, is investigating allegations of financial malfeasance involving one of the state’s most influential political power brokers, William E. Rapfogel, the NY Times reports.
The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, headed by Rapfogal since 1992 as chief executive and president, issued a statement announcing Mr. Rapfogel’s immediate termination.
“The board of directors of Met Council recently became aware of specific information regarding financial irregularities and apparent misconduct in connection with the organization’s insurance policies,” the statement read. “The board retained outside counsel to conduct a full investigation. Based on that investigation, which is ongoing, the board has terminated Mr. Rapfogel, effective immediately, and notified the proper authority. To date, the investigation has not revealed evidence that any current employees of Met Council engaged in any wrongdoing.”
In a statement, Damien LaVera, a spokesman for Mr. Schneiderman, said, “This matter is the subject on an ongoing criminal investigation conducted in conjunction with the Office of the Comptroller as part of Operation Integrity.”
People familiar with the matter told The Times that he was informed of the board’s decision last week, when he was on vacation, and that he was not allowed to retrieve most of his personal effects from his office, because all materials were being reviewed by investigators.
“It is very serious,” said one person who has been briefed on the allegations, but spoke on condition of anonymity because of the investigation.
"After 21 years at the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, I deeply regret the mistakes I have made that have led to my departure from the organization," Rapfogel wrote in a statement. "I apologize to our dedicated officers and board, our incredible staff and those who depend on Met Council. I let them all down."
"I pray that my family and friends and all who care about met Council can find it in their heart to forgive for my actions. i will do everything possible to make amends. My failing should not reflect poorly on an organization that continues to serve so many people with dignity and kindness every day. it has been a privilege to be part of that effort.'
New York - Multiple sources are reporting Tuesday that former Met Council-head William Rapfogel may have pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in an alleged scheme involving insurance bills paid for with Met Council money. The New York Post is reporting that “Sources said Rapfogel is under criminal investigation for allegedly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in a scheme he allegedly concocted to inflate the council’s insurance bills so he could keep the overcharges for himself. Investigators also are looking at whether Rapfogel directed officials from Century Coverage Corp. of Long Island to funnel some of the ill-gotten gains to the campaigns of favored politicians. The New York Daily News is quoting a source that is saying Rapfogel kept “six figures worth of cash” over the past several years from his scheme.
Does 501c donated food go to poor or to the "kosher" supermarket for resale
I have a similar question' --questions-- about another, so-called benevolent organization that toots their 501C/3 recognition. Do all the funds that they collect for the donated vehicles go to the stated beneficiaries, or to keep the office humming?! 😳 🙄
אינעם ליכט פונעם ראבפויגל סקאנדאל, האט דער CEO פון די חברה הצלה, דוד קאהן רעזעגנירט פון הצלה און וועט ווארשיינדלעך ווערן ארעסטירט און אנגעקלאגט אין האבן א חלק אינעם קארופציע 📎 metc.jpg <a class="postlink" href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/nyregion/rabbi-is-said-to-be-among-those-who-helped-set-up-kickback-scheme-at-charity.html">http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/ny ... arity.html</a>
Allegedly, Rapfogel and the Met Council diverted truckloads of food meant to feed the poor to a politically powerful Williamsburg hasidic businessman who owns a very large kosher supermarket. That hasidic businessman sold the food; the poor got none of it. It is unclear how much the businessman allegedly paid the Met Council under the table for the food or what percentage of profits was allegedly used to grease politicians. This businessman's supermarket was also allegedly the only supermarket in Williamsburg authorized to take Met Council food vouchers. What the businessman had to pay Rapfogel for that monopoly is unclear. Borough Park, on the other hand, has several Met Council-authorized grocers.
Allegedly, Rapfogel and the Met Council diverted truckloads of food meant to feed the poor to a politically powerful Williamsburg hasidic businessman who owns a very large kosher supermarket. That hasidic businessman sold the food; the poor got none of it. It is unclear how much the businessman allegedly paid the Met Council under the table for the food or what percentage of profits was allegedly used to grease politicians. This businessman's supermarket was also allegedly the only supermarket in Williamsburg authorized to take Met Council food vouchers. What the businessman had to pay Rapfogel for that monopoly is unclear. Borough Park, on the other hand, has several Met Council-authorized grocers.
די ארטיקעל איז אזוי שוואך געשריבען, און '' זלמן זאפיר'' שרייבט נישט א מקור,האב איך גע GOOGLED מבטן מי יצאו, און אט דאס קומט פון די עם'הארץ'שע שרייבער בעל דימיון און ערגערס
אין בח"ח איז משמע אז די רעדע איז וועגען מענצער גראסערי גרעיפ זשוס?
רעידת אדמה בניו יורק: הרב דוד כהן יו"ר ארגון הצלה בניו יורק הודיע היום על התפטרותו בעקבות חשד למעורבות בהונאת הענק.
לפני שבוע נחשף כי ארגון החסד "Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty" המסייע למשפחות נזקקות, היה שותף להונאת ענק בסכום של מיליוני דולרים בכספים שהיו מיועדים למשפחות יהודיות נזקקות.
כהן שימש כיועץ פיננסי של האגודה, ופוטר בחשאי מתפקידו כאשר התגלתה ההונאה.
לפי החשד הועברו משאיות מזון שהיו מיועדות לחלוקה למשפחות עניות, למשווק מזון חסידי מויליאמסבורג שבבעלותו רשת סופרמרקטים.
איש העסקים מכר את המוצרים בסופרמרקטים לציבור הרחב. כך גם המרכול שבבעלות איש העסקים החרדי היה היחידי שזכה במונופול של האגודה, בו יכלו הנזקקים לרכוש אוכל בתמורה לשוברי המזון שקיבלו מהאגודה.
בניגוד להתנהלות האגודה בויליאמסבורג, בשכונת בורו פארק יכלו הנזקקים להשתמש בשוברי המזון בכמה מרכולים.
