Earl Seth David, better known in the Jewish community as Rabbi Avraham David, is accused of running a scheme in which his Manhattan law practice submitted at least 25,000 immigration applications over nearly 15 years, based mainly on fake claims that U.S. companies had sponsored immigrants for employment. David was once interviewed by Zev Brenner on Brenner's Talkline Communications Network show. He presented himself as an expert on the Bible Codes.
New York lawyer charged with running immigration fraud mill
By Noeleen Walder
(Reuters) - A New York attorney was arrested in Canada on Tuesday on charges that he ran an "immigration fraud mill" that filed tens of thousands of bogus U.S. immigration applications, U.S. prosecutors said.
Earl Seth David was accused of running a scheme in which his Manhattan law practice submitted at least 25,000 immigration applications over nearly 15 years, based mainly on fake claims that U.S. companies had sponsored immigrants for employment, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.
The David Firm charged up to $30,000 per client and netted millions of dollars, prosecutors said.
Representatives of David, also known as "Rabbi Avraham David," could not be reached for comment on Tuesday evening.
David, 47, was one of 12 people whose indictments in connection with the scheme were unsealed on Tuesday. David continued to run the scheme even after being suspended from practicing law in New York in 2004, Bharara's office said. He fled to Canada in 2006 and is now awaiting extradition.
Those charged include employees of David's law offices who created documents to support the immigration applications; accountants who created fake tax returns for fictitious sponsor companies; and a Labor Department employee who assisted in the scheme, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
All of the defendants were indicted on several charges, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Earl David emailed me this spring from Canada, attacking me for my focus on Orthodox and haredi crime. Here's the exchange:
On May 30, 2011, at 10:06 PM, earl david wrote:
whatever the Jews do, it is nothing compared to crimes of the goyim. Why don't you focus on the goyim, it is enough chillul hashem out there.
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:15 PM
Oh. Okay. Good idea. And then the goyyim can focus on our crimes, right? Phew, that would be a relief!
On May 30, 2011, at 10:19 PM, earl david wrote:
if our crimes can fill one book case, they can fill up 100.
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:22 PM
True. But they outnumber us far more than 100 to 1. Oh, by the way, why aren't you concerned about the victims of haredi crime? Aron Rottenberg. Dozens of kids raped by their teachers and rabbis. Women made agunot by their husbands. And that's a very shortened list of only haredi victims. There are also so many non-haredi and non-Jewish victims, too. Why aren't you concerned about any of these poor people?
On May 30, 2011, at 10:24 PM, earl david wrote:
why do you assume I am not concerned? Injustice does not take sides. what about thousands of catholics raped by their priests?
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:26 PM
Good point. Why do you attack me but not attack al those Catholic activists who outed those priests?
On May 30, 2011, at 10:28 PM, earl david wrote:
who said I am attacking you? why do you make assumptions? I am just trying to bring out a point that you should expose all injustice in the world.
Why don't you expose the injustice of Assad against Syrians? Qadaffis soldiers raping women? Women who cannot drive in Saudi Arabia
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:30 PM
Why don't you donate money to the Catholic victims?
On May 30, 2011, at 10:33 PM, earl david wrote:
First of all, how do you know who I donate too or don't donate too? You keep making assumptions. In any event, show proof on your website that you donate to other causes.
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:36 PM
You're missing my point. You know very well that you donate primarily or exclusively to Jewish causes. Your excuse for this most likely is that you only have so much money to give, and there isn't enough to go around and, besides, if Jews don't help themselves, who will? My point, Earl, is that I have only so much time and energy, and I choose to devote most of it to the Jewish community, just like you do with your money.
On May 30, 2011, at 10:38 PM, earl david wrote:
again, you are making unfounded assumptions. I spend more money on goyim than Jews.
I should spend more money on Jews.
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:40 PM
Very few people who use the word goyyim spend more money on them than on Jews, Earl. But I think you get my point.
On May 30, 2011, at 10:41 PM, earl david wrote:
Listen, we call them what they are.
From: Shmarya Rosenberg
Subject: Re: jews and goyim
To: "earl david"
Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:45 PM
Non-Jews.
On May 30, 2011 10:45:42 PM CDT, earl david wrote:
good point.
I guess we now know why Earl wanted me to focus on crimes committed by "goyim."
Update 4:35 pm CDT – Arrested with David were several other haredim: Leo (Lipa) Teitelbaum, Mayer Weber, Chaim Walter, Abraham Flam, Nathan Schwartz and Aryea Yehuda Flohr. (There my be more. Read the PDF to see if you recognize any names.) There were also non-Jews arrested, including several Muslims.
All the names are in this PDF file:
Download David, Earl et. al Arrests PR