Man Accused of Extorting Former Sharon Rabbi Held on $400,000 Bail

A Quincy man accused of extorting over $400,000 from former Temple Israel Rabbi Barry Starr will be held on bail.

Nicholas Zemeitus, 30, of Quincy, was ordered held on $400,000 bail according to the Boston Globe. A lawyer for the defendant sough a bail of $5,000 to $7,000.

On Tuesday, Zemeitus was arraigned on seven counts of larceny over $250, two counts of receiving stolen property over $250, one count of larceny under $250, and one count of extortion.

According to court records, Zemeitus met Sarr after discovering a sex ad on Craig’s List for an older woman. Zemeitus ended up Starr’s home where he found the rabbi in drag.

E-mails show that Zemeitus attempted to blackmail Starr into giving him money, threating to make a sexual relationship with Zemeitus’ non-existent teenage brother public.

Starr allegedly used money from the rabbi’s discretionary fund and requested money from members of the temple to pay off the Quincy man.

The rabbi’s arraignment date has not been set.