Rabbi, several others arrested in public benefits fraud case

Source: Associated Press


David Porter and Bruce Shipkowski, Associated Press

Updated 4:15 pm, Monday, June 26, 2017


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey rabbi and his wife and three other couples defrauded state and federal public assistance programs out of more than $1 million by underreporting their incomes, according to criminal complaints released Monday.

One of the couples continued to receive Medicaid assistance for their children despite making more than $1 million in both 2012 and 2013, according to one criminal complaint. Another continued receiving benefits in 2014, even though they made $1.8 million the year before, prosecutors said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said more arrests are expected as a result of the investigation centered on Lakewood, a New Jersey shore town that is home to a large and growing ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin, of Congregation Lutzk, and his wife, Tzipporah, were charged with collecting more than $338,000 in benefits prosecutors said they weren't entitled to. Their attorney said they will plead not guilty.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Rabbi-several-others-arrested-in-public-benefits-11247060.php