Unchecked Abuse At Prominent Charity For Decades

By Gary Snyder

The community leader who led the Metropolitan New York Council on Jewish Poverty for two decades, William E. Rapfogel, plead guilty in connection with a scheme to loot more than $7 million from one of New York City’s most influential social service organizations. 

Another defendant charged in the scheme, David Cohen, who was Mr. Rapfogel’s predecessor at the council, is also scheduled to plead guilty.

Mr. Rapfogel was arrested in September and charged with grand larceny, money laundering, conspiracy and other crimes in a criminal complaint filed by the state attorney general. 

Both were accused of colluding with others to steal millions through a scheme that involved overcharging the council for insurance policies and then skimming off the margin in cash. 

Rapfogel was also accused of manipulating the city’s matching-fund formula to fraudulently increase campaign contributions to politicians who gave government grants to his organization.

More than $400,000 in cash was recovered, including about $372,000 Mr. Rapfogel had hidden in his homes and turned over to investigators after they asked about the scheme, and an additional $48,000 that was recovered later during the execution of a search warrant. (NYT)

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