Elly Kleinman's Company Has Been Fined $15 Million For Defrauding Government Programs; Why Are New York Politicians Posing For Pictures With Him?
Haredi businessman Elly Kleinman's Americare was fined $7
million in 2005 and $8 million in 2008 for
falsely obtaining Medicaid and state funds. Then in late December 2012, Americare was accused by whistleblowers of using various tricks to double bill Medicare – a charge Americare denies. With a track record like this, why are New York politicians posing for pictures with Elly Kleinman?
L-R: NYC Councilperson Mark Weprin; Elly Kleinman CEO Americare - Ohel Gala Chairman; US Congressman Jerrold Nadler; and NY State Assemblyman David Weprin at Ohel's Gala fundraising dinner earlier this month.
Haredi businessman Elly Kleinman's Americare was fined $7
million in 2005 after New York State investigators found Americare
billed for bogus
hours at adult homes for eight years.
In 2008, Americare was fined $8 million by New York State for falsely claiming home health aides had been trained to care for Medicaid patients when they had not actually had proper training.
Then in late December 2012, Americare was accused by whistleblowers of using various tricks to double bill Medicare – including allegedly telling a family to erect a wall to divide their Brooklyn home so they could get two home healthcare aides instead of one, a charge Americare denies.
So with a track record like this, why are politicians like NYC Councilperson Mark Weprin (D), US Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D, NY), and NY State Assemblyman David Weprin (D) posing for pictures with Elly Kleinman like the one posted above?
Ohel – and Kleinman's money.
The photograph posted above was taken at Ohel's recent gala fundraising dinner, which Kleinman chaired.
Besides his prominent role in Ohel, Kleinman also has an entire campus of Lakewood Yeshiva named after his family.
In haredi society, defrauding government programs is not reason enough to stop honoring the rich men who do it, and the message haredi children get is that, in their community, crime pays.
Reenforcing that horrible idea are these politicians.
In the cesspool that is New York State and Brooklyn politics, smiling and posing next to a man whose company has been caught twice taking money from government programs that it did not legally qualify for, and by doing so helping to create more children who will choose to lead a less than honest life, is not a political liability.
Related Posts:
See the Beis Halevi on Parshas Terumah who states that a tzedaka contribution that was made with funds that were not acquired legally is a sin and does not count as a mitzvah! Hence Parshas Mishpatim precedes Parshas Terumah.
Posted by: purple cherries | February 11, 2013 at 05:33 AM
He doesn't look Haredi to me.
Posted by: Sheryl | February 11, 2013 at 06:03 AM
Shmarya is jealous. No politicians will give him a photo op.
Posted by: DBSesq | February 11, 2013 at 06:21 AM
It amazes me that failed missiah that is always defending the underdog! Is ripping this bal chesed up?? Hypocrisy??
Posted by: JoeN | February 11, 2013 at 07:23 AM
It amazes me that failed missiah that is always defending the underdog! Is ripping this bal chesed up?? Hypocrisy??
Had you never stopped to consider that "the overdog", to coin a phrase, is more than capable of defending itself?
Posted by: Darth Zeidah | February 11, 2013 at 07:44 AM
Does this Ohel have anything to do with Ohelei Torah in Brooklyn, the yeshiva that turns out functional illiterates (Chaim Levin's old school)? Does Lakewood Yeshiva have a similar academic program?
Why are NY politicians posing for pictures with Mr. Kleinman? Because that is what politicians do. I am sure that if they were invited to the wedding of a Mafia Don's daughter, they would also show up and pose for pictures if asked to. So would Catholic politicians.
Americans get the politicians they deserve. But somehow, the system has lasted over 200 years, as corrupt as it sometimes appears to be.
Posted by: Rocky | February 11, 2013 at 08:15 AM
This is more of a question for the politicians than for Kleinman.
Posted by: Red Sox Fan | February 11, 2013 at 08:37 AM
If you give lots of money or lots of votes- or preferably both- to politicians, they will pose with you, too. Your personal morals or ethics is of little concern to the politicians.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | February 11, 2013 at 08:41 AM
Elly Kleinman's Company Has Been Fined $15 Million For Defrauding Government Programs; Why Are New York Politicians Posing For Pictures With Him?
Simple. Because they're sleazy Democrats.
Posted by: Lubavitchers Are Christians | February 11, 2013 at 10:04 AM
"Shmarya is jealous. No politicians will give him a photo op".
Posted by: DBSesq
Daniel Schwartz, as the President of East Ramapo School Board, you should not be bullying or posting negative comments about anyone! What kind of example are you setting for your children?
Posted by: Devorah | February 11, 2013 at 10:12 AM
There is a new Charedi Motto, which while ominous is true:
GELT UBER ALLES
And that is why. Most politicians have the same motto, so they are in bed together.
Posted by: Flatbusher | February 11, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Of course, a republican would never pose with a sleazy donor.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | February 11, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Shmarya,
I hope your asking a rhetorical question! ;-)
Posted by: Jake | February 11, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Of course, a republican would never pose with a sleazy donor.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | February 11, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Just the response we hear from haredi apologists: "The non-haredim do the same." Which, by the way, is false.
I see the apologist trolls are out in full gear today.
Posted by: Lubavitchers Are Christians | February 11, 2013 at 01:10 PM
LAC-
your comment implied that ONLY democrats do such things. pointing out that ALL politicians do wasnt meant to excuse it. but you knew that. in your full blown stupidity you disingenuously compared it to someone excusing charedi behavior by saying others do it too. the commenter was rightly exposing your disturbed bias.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | February 11, 2013 at 03:41 PM
your comment implied that ONLY democrats do such things. pointing out that ALL politicians do wasnt meant to excuse it. but you knew that. in your full blown stupidity you disingenuously compared it to someone excusing charedi behavior by saying others do it too. the commenter was rightly exposing your disturbed bias.
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | February 11, 2013 at 03:41 PM
And once again, your comment sounds exactly like Deremes defending haredim who molest kids.
"Everyone does it. You're disingenous. You're biased against haredim. I'm not excusing it, just pointing out that everyone does it."
Right.
Posted by: Lubavitchers Are Christians | February 11, 2013 at 04:23 PM
LAC, you really do illustrate why the republicans lost the presidential election- they, like you, are out of touch with reality and logic.
Neither I nor APC defended sleazy politicians who accept money from sleazy businessmen. On the contrary, my comment was that both parties do the same shit, and the obvious message was that it is wrong for any politician to do.
You, on the other hand, made it sound like only Democrats do such sleazy things.
But don't let logic get in your way. Maybe you and Karl Rove can crunch the numbers one more time, and see if maybe Romney can still pull this election off.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | February 11, 2013 at 05:54 PM