Lakewood, NJ – Accused Ponzi schemer Eliyahu Weinstein is shopping for a new criminal attorney.
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Ephraim Savitt, the New York City-based lawyer who represented Weinstein in his preliminary hearings, on Oct. 14 asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Esther Salas for permission to be relieved as Weinstein’s counsel.
“The reason for my application to be relieved is that I have waited — to no avail — to be properly retained,” Savitt wrote in his letter to the judge. “Should the retainer preconditions be met in the near future, I hope the Court will entertain my motion to re-file a notice of appearance.”
Savitt also wrote that Weinstein is “in the process of retaining other counsel.”
In an e-mail, Savitt said the retainer preconditions to which he was refering were “agreed-upon fee payments.”
“I am in the business of helping people who need help, and that’s what I did by fighting to get my client out of jail over the government’s strenuous objections,” Savitt said in the e-mail. “I just don’t want it to become a hobby.”
Weinstein, a real estate developer, was charged on Aug. 12 with having masterminded a $200 million scheme to defraud his investors. He and another defendant, Vladimir Siforov, were charged with defrauding a bank and defrauding an investor.
Siforov remains at large.
Weinstein was released from a Hudson County jail in late August on $10 million bail and a list of restrictions.
The $10 million was secured by liens on property owned by his parents, sister, brother-in-law and two men who Weinstein has never met.
The restrictions placed on Weinstein include 24-hour house arrest, GPS monitoring with exclusionary zones — no airports — and the forfeiture of passports belonging to Weinstein, his wife and children.
Weinstein’s travel is limited to New Jersey, and he is only allowed to leave his house to meet with his attorney, medical visits and religious observances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office argued against bail, saying that Weinstein was a high flight risk.
Weinstein faces about 50 years in prison if he is convicted of all charges.
But Savitt argued that Weinstein knew the government was going to arrest him for some time, and during that period of time made a number of overseas trips, returning every time.
The case is on hold until Sunday to allow both sides to negotiate a deal, according to court papers.
Weinstein could not be reached for comment.
were are those same rabbis writing about why everyone but them are at fault for our children being turned off apartently mr. weinstein a lakewood boy did good he only ripped off 200 million how much of that went into the yeshivas coffers as well as other institutions. why is he any better then these kids maybe he should have learnt from then take off your kippa and dont embarrass as better still perhaps our yeshivas should be re assessing them selves and why their students are theives they make the kids as risk look good
Please Pray to god he should win his case every body could make mistakes if he did anything wrong
2 – what is that supposed to mean? Actually he is eligible for an aliya in any shul as he is not in cherem or even proven guilty by any court yet – but I do not think he would expect anything other than being picked up by a bulvan by the legs as practice for next year’s simchas torah hagbah.
#2 chabad bmg perhaps chabad is not that active inj lakewood
#3 pray for him he’s a crook plan and simple do the crime now do the time
when you sleep with flees you get them
People who want prey on people first got to make themselves look good to the community. Did anybody here see the Music Man who came to a city to rip off people; same here. He buys his reputation. Great guy gives money to every organization with a good cause, gives money to the down and out etc etc etc until people feel comfortable to give them their hard earned money
to #1
of course Lakewood rebbies almost encourage this by never talking against these type of events. As a matter of fact just last year their was a diner help in Lakewood, Rav Kotler was there, for a guy who just a day before was let out of prison for major fraud.
what message does that show?
here we go again naive stupid people
some one who done every thing wrong and maid many families homles he should get the maximum jail and he still cant repay them
reply to #15
do you know they are people in london who lost there home due to this ganev
i am not here to judge him how many years he is going to get
and what this nonsence with zechus and trying to cover up robbing peter to live a life style and give tzedaka and then you hear in a yeshivsher knietsh saying who are we to judge so what do want all the next genaration to grow up like
Whatever yeshiva or tzedaka received his stolen or questionable funds, should do the right thing and refund it to his victims. That would be yashrus……..