Gave donors kickbacks of 90% - 95% of their "donations."
NY-based rabbi agrees to plead guilty in LA case
The Associated PressLOS ANGELES—The head of an Orthodox Jewish group has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge stemming from what prosecutors say was a decade-long tax fraud and money laundering scheme.
Naftali Tzi Weisz (naf-TALL-e, ZEE, WHY-z) could face up to five years in prison after signing a plea agreement last week that is contingent on other co-defendants also pleading guilty to various charges.
An e-mail message left for Weisz's attorneys was not immediately returned Monday.
Prosecutors say Weisz and others helped donors avoid paying federal income taxes by having them make contributions to charitable groups run by Spinka, a New York-based Orthodox Jewish group led by Weisz.
U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek says an agreement with the charitable organizations is almost finished.
[Hat Tip: a reader.]
Spinka stinka going to the clinka.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | July 13, 2009 at 04:09 PM
It seems like Spinka has more rebbes than you can shake a stick at.
Posted by: justayid | July 13, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Rabbi, we have you on tape, we have you on video, we have multiple witnesses against you.
We can stick you in prison for 221 years OR you can plead guilty and the maximum time is ONLY 5 years.
You have 1 minute to decide
Posted by: isa | July 13, 2009 at 05:53 PM
fundamentalism is a direct cause of amoralism. you can be sure they all thought this was fine as it didnt directly violate any halachas when understood literally since the govt. is not a jew. and dina d'malchusa dina can be played with to mean almost anything.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | July 13, 2009 at 05:56 PM
This is not a new scam - I heard about it 30 years ago when I was horrified at my boss's "tzedaka contributions". He's so "frum" that he GRINDS HIS OWN FLOUR to make matzos! For some reason, the people of the Boro Park and Williamsburg ilk HONESTLY don't think that what they are doing is contrary to the Torah - if they did, I have enough faith in them to think that they wouldn't do it. The "Chilul Hashem" component seems to elude them altogether.
Posted by: Eliezer | July 13, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Wow, poor donors. Now the head of the conspiracy the Spinka Rebbe, made a plea deal and will get only 5 years, what would happen to you the poor naive shmucks? Name of everyone who evaded taxes using Spinka mafia will be given to the authorities and the people will rot in jail for much longer the 5 years the Spinka rav got.
What about the din of "moser/informer" that he and other haredim are talking about all the time or is it only applies to someone informing on them, but does not apply when they inform on others?
Posted by: Ben | July 13, 2009 at 06:28 PM
That orthodox prison in Otisville, aka Kiryas Rubashkin, will soon be overcrowded.
Madoff will probably be considered the Rebbe there, having reached levels that these other crooks could only dream of.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | July 13, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Madoff is being sent south, not to Otisville. Apparently the judge decided against it, perhaps for his own safety? I doubt there are many Jews who'd be happy to have him in their midst, not even in Otisville.
Maybe he'll be a cellly with the Stinka from Spinka :-)
Posted by: Yossel | July 13, 2009 at 06:51 PM
check out
http://vimeo.com/5564504
Posted by: RM | July 13, 2009 at 06:57 PM
Goodnight funny man. Don't drop the soap.
Posted by: Nigritude Ultramarine | July 13, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Where did all these bozos come from? When I was growing up there was the Lubavitche Rebbe, the Grerrer Rebbe, the Satmar, Beltzer and Monchatche Rav.
Where did the all these other petty potentates come from, Pupa? Spinka?
Posted by: PishPosh | July 13, 2009 at 09:38 PM
I am a follower of the Bushmill Rebbe. He speaks to me from the bottom of a glass.
His most recent advice was "relax, it's been a long day, have a few cookies, with another glass".
My rebbe is wise indeed. He does not permit driving any day of the week, not just Shabbos, anytime I speak with him.
The traditional attire of the Bushmill chassidim (I understand they have been around since 1608, which would be 4161 on the yiddisher calendar) is the pajama or nightshirt, with slippers.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | July 13, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Do they allow bekishers and streimluch in jail? Will he be able to go to mikvah before shabbos? Look for a mess of lawsuits claiming infringement of religious freedom.
As I noted when the original story broke is the sheer stupidity. Spinka gave back so much money that they ended up with almost nothing. At least Madoff got the money. What did Spinka get?
On the bright side, maybe when he comes out he'll endorse gay marriage.
Posted by: David Willig | July 14, 2009 at 04:24 AM
"What about the din of "moser/informer" that he and other haredim are talking about all the time or is it only applies to someone informing on them, but does not apply when they inform on others?
Posted by: Ben | July 13, 2009 at 06:28 PM"
The question of the day.
"On the bright side, maybe when he comes out he'll endorse gay marriage.
Posted by: David Willig | July 14, 2009 at 04:24 AM"
LOL!
Posted by: shmuel | July 14, 2009 at 08:31 AM
The Stinka From Spinka
Posted by: Neandershort | July 14, 2009 at 10:46 AM
what was agudah's involvement in this?
agudahfressers.blogspot.com
Posted by: agudah fresser | July 15, 2009 at 11:05 AM
This will spread to your town if you do not stop it!
Discuss this and more at :
http://www.StopNewSquare2.com
Thank you.
Posted by: StopNewSquare2 | August 04, 2009 at 11:10 PM