Nathan Rothschild Pleads Guilty
Former East Ramapo schools chief and Monsey fire commissioner Nathan Rothschild this morning pleaded guilty in Federal Court to engaging in a mail fraud scheme. Rothschild, who is ultra-Orthodox, led the dominant and controversial ultra-Orthodox faction of the East Ramapo school board.
Nathan Rothschild, Ex-Monsey fire commissioner, pleads guilty in fraud scheme
Alex Taylor • Journal News
WHITE PLAINS — Former East Ramapo schools chief and Monsey fire commissioner Nathan Rothschild this morning pleaded guilty to engaging in a mail fraud scheme.
He could face up to 20 years in prison for the felony charge.
But U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Karas in White Plains indicated that Rothschild could serve the term of between 27 to 33 months in prison.
Speaking in court, Rothschild admitted that he had attempted to wipe out his personal debt of $125,000 by selling public property while serving as a Monsey fire commissioner. The scheme appears not have gone far before Rothschild was caught.
"You knew what you were doing was illegal?" Karas asked.
"Yes," Rothschild said.
Rothschild, 54, is currently free on $100,000 bail.
His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 4.
at least he plead guilty instead of hamming it up with a bid for saintliness like rubashkin. total lowlife on all accounts, but at least i can give him that;
Posted by: the usual chaim | June 30, 2011 at 10:05 PM
He's just the first of many to go down in Rockland. They're all sh***** in their pants now with all the Feds involved. We have worked to our bare bones to rid the vermin.
Posted by: devorah | June 30, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Rubashin could have gotten 24 months, but he wanted to do it the nat lewin way.
If he would have been contrite he would have been out already.
Posted by: Critical minyan | June 30, 2011 at 11:17 PM
No Otisville for this guy. Send him down to Bernie in North Carolina.
Posted by: Yeah | July 01, 2011 at 03:18 AM
THE DEVIL WORKS ON PEOPLE IN A MYSTERIOUS WAYS THROUGH PEOPLE TO COMMIT CRIMES AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT. THE WORLD IS MADE UP 50/50 GOD CONTROLS AND SATAN CONTROLS SINCE TIME BEGAN.
Posted by: DONNA | July 01, 2011 at 06:51 AM
ULTRA ORTHODOX????
He definitely looks it to me...
Posted by: Sam | July 01, 2011 at 06:57 AM
Not true. He often voted with the opponents of the orthodox board members and cooperated with their opponents. He did not lead that faction.
Posted by: anon | July 01, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Anon is correct. While Rothschild is orthodox, he has indeed voted against the ultra-orthodox majority rather often. He was actually open to hearing opponents' opinions, which I don't believe has ever happened with the rest of the orthodox majority.
In this article appears to be contrite. It could be the (typical) Journal News reporting, but I'm not seeing arrogance and bluster, at least not right now, all of which renders me surprised. I'm not planning to rush out and buy his book but am curious to know whether he actually blows the whistle on anything.
Ramapo needs a good forensic accounting,including but not limited to the E. Ramapo school district The insanity in Ramapo has been going on for a long time, and the FBI has finally begun a formal investigation. Should get interesting as they
follow the money trail around here.
Posted by: Contente | July 01, 2011 at 10:02 AM
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Nathan was the most honest of the school board and many times really tried to help the kids. When the rest of the Chasidic board wanted to cut sports, college prep classes, art and music, Nathan protested that the public school kids need these activities. The rest of the board is currently being investigated and they will have their day in court. They make Rubashkin look like a true tzadik.
Moral of the story? A Chasidic school board should not be in charge of public school funds or administration unless they are squeaky clean, because public school parents will do their damnest to protect their kids and expose fraud.
Posted by: devorah | July 01, 2011 at 10:05 AM
http://youtu.be/CMSwJ7fmtiM
Posted by: 613ENFORCER | July 01, 2011 at 10:21 AM
it is time the feds investigated mendel hoffmans clinic
there are two sets of books and they break the law by sending patients to different offices all day and billing mediciad fraudentlently
the government should ask nathan who was on the board there what hoffman does
Posted by: lion | July 01, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Lion: Mendel is too careful to do anything of that sort; and besides, he is savvy enough to make his government money in ways that would never be "illegal." Not saying he is a tzadik......
Re. Nathan: He actually tried to weasel out of the plea; threading a needle that he "faxed" as opposed to "mailed." His attorney put a stop to that nonsense, or he would have been screwed. Sweet guy, warm guy....biggest liar on the planet. Sad.
Posted by: Aharoni | July 01, 2011 at 04:49 PM
To those who say that Nathan voted against the Hasidic board members, I have to correct that record...he only voted them in the least important issues and when it didn't make any difference because they had a 6-9 majority. He never acted in the best interest of the kids. He was masterful at throwing figures around. He would threaten to cut something important, then those parents would come out, all the while he was busy making cuts somewhere else while no one was looking. He ALWAYS had his community's best interest at heart. Brilliant man with an 11 grade education. Makes you wonder if the others went to any school at all!
I am sure Nathan sung like a bird in order to get a reduced term and I don't blame him. I can only imagine what dirt he has on others. I hope he brings down many, many others with him. I do feel badly for his family, he has very young kids who will miss their father.
Posted by: Pearl of Wisdom | July 01, 2011 at 07:07 PM