2 Orthodox Jews with Kiryas Joel Connections Charged with Conspiracy to Kidnap, Murder

MONROE, NY — A member of the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel and an Israel-based rabbi have been accused by the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan of conspiring to kidnap and murder a man in order to arrange a religious divorce for the man’s wife.

Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said a criminal complaint has been filed charging Shimen Liebowitz, 25, of Monroe, and Aharon Goldberg, 55, of Bnei Brak, Israel, with one count each of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count each of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

The pair were arrested Tuesday in Central Valley while meeting to plan the kidnapping and murder.

They were presented Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan.

Bharara said the complaint alleges they met repeatedly to plan the kidnapping and to pay more than $55,000 to an individual they believed would carry it out.

“Thanks to the exemplary work of our partners at the FBI and NYPD, Liebowitz and Goldberg are now in custody,” he said.

Liebowitz is a member of the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel. Goldberg is an Israel-based rabbi who also maintains a position of prominence in Kiryas Joel.

According to the allegations in the complaint:

According to Jewish religious law as observed in certain communities, in order to effect a divorce, a husband must provide his wife with a document known as a “get.” A woman whose husband will not consent to a divorce is known as an “agunah.” In the absence of the husband’s issuing a get, an agunah may be released from her marriage only through the husband’s death.

In early July, an individual (the “CS”) contacted the FBI and reported that the CS had been recruited by LIEBOWITZ and GOLDBERG to kidnap a particular individual (the “Intended Victim”) in order to force the Intended Victim to issue a get to his wife. Like the CS, GOLDBERG and LIEBOWITZ are orthodox Jews.

The CS provided the FBI with information about a conversation he had with LIEBOWITZ and GOLDBERG on or about July 6 or July 7. During the meeting, which was recorded, the CS feigned interest in participating in the kidnapping. He, GOLDBERG, and LIEBOWITZ discussed how such a kidnapping might be carried out, including the possibility of luring the Intended Victim to Pennsylvania in order to kidnap him, torture him, and force him to give the get. The CS, GOLDBERG, and LIEBOWITZ also discussed the possibility of kidnapping the Intended Victim in Ukraine, where the Intended Victim planned to travel in late September to celebrate the Jewish New Year. GOLDBERG and LIEBOWITZ agreed to advance the CS $25,000 to assist in efforts to plan the kidnapping. According to the CS, within days of this initial meeting, an envelope containing approximately $25,000 cash was delivered to the CS.

On or about August 9, 2016, the CS met with LIEBOWITZ and GOLDBERG in Kiryas Joel, New York. During this meeting, the CS, GOLDBERG, and LIEBOWITZ discussed additional details of the kidnapping plan, including logistics and the cost associated with a plan to kidnap the Intended Victim overseas. This conversation was also recorded.

On August 12, 2016, the CS again met with LIEBOWITZ and GOLDBERG, at which time they provided the CS with an additional payment of over $20,000 for use in making arrangements for the kidnapping. In this meeting, which was also recorded, the CS, GOLDBERG and LIEBOWITZ further discussed their plan to kidnap the Intended Victim in the United States and to obtain the get from him in this country.

Subsequent to the August 12, 2016, meeting, the CS had additional conversations with GOLDBERG, in which GOLDBERG discussed his desire not merely to kidnap the Intended Victim, but also to kill him.

On August 25, 2016, the CS met LIEBOWITZ in Central Valley, New York. During the meeting, LIEBOWITZ paid the CS an additional sum of about $12,000 to carry out the kidnapping. Also during the meeting, the CS spoke by phone with GOLDBERG, who was still in Israel, about the kidnapping plan, which the CS and GOLDBERG referred to in code as a “wedding,” as well as GOLDBERG’s desire that the CS kill the Intended Victim. This conversation was also recorded.

On or about September 2, 2016, the CS had another recorded conversation with LIEBOWITZ, during which LIEBOWITZ indicated his understanding that the Intended Victim would be murdered as part of the plan.

The kidnapping conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential sentence of life in prison and the murder for hire conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

Image via Shutterstock.