Moshe Rubashkin Sentenced to 16 Months Prison and $450,000 in Fines and Restitutions

ALLENTOWN, PA [CHI] — Court reconvened this morning in Allentown, Pennsylvania and the judge handed down his verdict. Reb Moshe was sentenced to 16 months in prison with the possibility of parole after a third of that, along with a fine of $450,000.

Once again many Crown Heightsers turned out in show of support, a bus and many private cars showed up, all leaving as early as 6:30 in the morning.

Update on the Proceedings with the Rubashkin Sentencing

Update: 7:18pm The case was adjourned to tomorrow morning in a courthouse in Allentown, PA at 9:30. The judge was quoted saying that this was due to the “nature of the late hour.”

PHILADELPHIA, PA [CHI] — Lots of Crown Heights residents made their way to Pennsylvania District Court in order to show support of Reb Moshe and his son Sholom Rubashkin who were indicted on charges of illegal storage of hazardous waste in their Montex Textiles company, formerly located in Allentown, PA, without a permit, and one count of making a materially false statement.

A bus packed with people, in addition to many private cars left Crown Heights as early as 6:30am, and filled the small courtroom well beyond capacity leaving many in the hallways and outside the courtroom just saying Tehillim and curiously awaiting updates.

COPS: JEW GUYS NEED TO TALK!

The NYPD is trying to settle a long-running dispute between two rival Orthodox Jewish patrol groups – and keep them from taking the law into their own hands – by uniting them into one police-supervised unit, The Post has learned.

The challenge is getting them to cooperate.

Shmira and Shomrim, private crime-patrol organizations in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, have been rivals since the late ’90s, when they split.

Shmira has agreed to the merger, which was proposed in June. Shomrim has refused.

The plan would create a united, NYPD-trained patrol group the department would supervise and partially fund, a source said.

Communities Meet at 1 Police Plaza for High Holy Days Briefing

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — With the high holidays approaching, community leaders and activists gathered at One Police Plaza in Manhattan for a security report and threat assessment meeting covering the security of places of worship, with the commissioner of police Hon. Raymond Kelly.

Shiduch Fears Hinder Search for Sicko Predator

Detectives fear a serial predator is stalking Borough Park, and are frustrated by the lack of cooperation they’re getting from one victim’s family, The Post has learned.

The Hasidic family of a 14-year-old girl assaulted on Aug. 3 is not helping detectives hunting her attacker, according to a police source familiar with the investigation.

“The detectives have hit a stone wall right now,” the source said. “Beyond a basic interview, they are not getting any cooperation.”

A New XO and Precinct Council Elections

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — The final Precinct Council Meeting before the summer took place this past Thursday, June 19th with a weak turnout in contrast to past meetings where many Jewish residents turned out to show concern with the crime in Crown Heights.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Its Official – CO Vega is Being Transfered

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Its official, the commanding officer of the 71st Precinct, Deputy Inspector Frank Vega is being transferred to Staten Island, where he will be promoted to Inspector.

The transfer, which is said to take in affect this Friday, is officially due to sharp rise in crime in the Borough of Staten Island.

Stay tuned to CrownHeights.info as we follow these developments.

Inspector Vega Tackles Rumors: “I’m Still Here”

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Contrary to what has been reported, Deputy Inspector Frank Vega will continue his duty as Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct, whose jurisdiction covers Crown Heights. In a phone conversation with CrownHeights.info Inspector Vega said: “I am unaware of any plans for my transfer as of yet”.

“A Commanding Officers term is typically 2 or 4 years, my last two commands were two years” he said, and then added “I am here in Crown Heights for three years now, and as far as I know and was informed, is that I have another year to go.”

More in the Extended Article!

DA: No deal for Jews accused in attack on black man in Crown Heights

The Brooklyn district attorney’s office refused to accept the surrender of two Jewish men accused of beating an unarmed black man in Crown Heights in exchange for more lenient charges, sources told the Daily News.

A lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience dealing with the Hasidic community tried to broker the deal, sources said Wednesday.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes turned the lawyer away, electing to have a grand jury continue to probe the April 14 attack on Andrew Charles, a 20-year-old college student.

6 Days of Persistent Torment Comes to a Screeching Halt for Crown Heights Shomrim

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Late Wednesday night Efraim Okonov (20), a member of the now infamous Shmira, was caught red handed by professional radio technicians as he was driving around in a blue ’96 Crown Victoria and ‘jamming’ Crown Heights Shomrim’s radio frequencies.

Jamming is a term used for when someone transmits an unauthorized transmission over a radio, such as those used by Police, Fire Department and Shomrim, with the intent of interfering with the legitimate transmissions. Radios have the ability to carry just one transmission at a time, thereby locking out any other attempts to broadcast messages.

Continued in the Extended Article.