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Eliyahu Ezagui Trial Starts Today

Developer Eli Ezagui

Eliyahu Ezagui goes on trial in Brooklyn federal court today, Tuesday. He is being accused of scamming families in the Crown Heights community in an alleged $18 million mortgage swindle.

The NY Posts Jason Fisher writes:

Eliyahu Ezagui conned Crown Heights families into believing that he was creating an exclusive Jewish community in two East New York buildings, prosecutors charge.

But after the families paid for the apartments and moved in, Ezagui, his wife, his parents and two business partners remortgaged the properties with five different banks by keeping a hold of the deeds, according to the indictment.

Also Read:

Wife of Jailed Developer, Reina Ezagui Asks for Help

Developer Eli Ezagui Indicted in $18M Mortgage Fraud

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41 Comments

  • support eliyahu

    He is being left to hang by the community!
    Its not so simple

    Support the Pidyon Shvuin

  • cma

    I have already sent my donation. Please send yours too.

    As someone said above, the case is not so simple as some have made it out to be. Of course Ezagui made mistakes, but he was not out to hurt anybody and always tried to help.

  • Elki

    It seems to me that the defrauded innocents need the financial help. They were swindled out of every penny and have nowhere to go.

  • equality

    does every jewish criminal get an advertisement for their legal fee funds or just the rich ones?

  • chaim

    Granted that families got messed up because of him but he did NOT intentioaly take money from people nor do it on purpose.

    He IS a good person.

  • anonymous

    He grew back his beard, wow, he almost looks like a rabbi. So now the papers can write that a ‘religious rabbi’ swindled his peers.

  • montreal 69---------73 mesiftah

    may g-d help him …. eliuhu u look gr8 , but when i look in yr eys , i see alot of pain and tzoras, may hashem help u . yr a good guy..

  • Are You Kidding

    You people are crazy
    This guy is exactly the kind of scam artist that preys on people like you
    If you are lining up to give him money the you are still being scammed
    Ask the people who bought those apartments if they’d like to give a donation, you should be giving them money
    wake up there are bad people in the world

  • Are you delusional?

    Are you guys delusional? This guy robbed, swindled, and manipulated a bunch of families. He stole their houses from them by ilegally holding onto deeds and using them to get NEW mortgages from the bank, posing as the owner of the condos. He is a theif and a crook. Send money for his defense? Are you joking?

  • didan notzach

    Eliyahu is a great person who helps people and families. we must show our support by sending in donations. With Hashem’s help, he should have a Yeshuah bkorov!!!!

  • the truth hurts

    Anybody that is writing such positive comments about this really “nice” guy was obviosly not messed up by him with thousands of dollars. He had many chances to fix his mistakes, but his greediness prevented the dismissal of this case. You can not judge the people who only want their hard earned money not to go to waste. Don’t feel sorry for him this was self inflicted.

  • anochi borosi maschchis lechabel

    now its pidyon shvuim
    the rest dont metter help a jew
    and dont be a meschchist .

  • Milhouse

    Why not donate money to the families who are facing homelessness because he scammed them? Are they less Anash than him? He brought this on himself.

  • Practical

    I am tired of being asked for money for people who think the law is above them. This is not tzedekah. Better to give to Yeshivas who are paying their teachers without raising tuition or to Devorah Benjamin who is a tzedekas. Also, on a different note, every couple should purchase term life insurance which is very reasonable so that , chas v”sholom, their familes do not have to ask for help from our overextended community.

  • i-m with you!!!!!!!!!!

    eliyahu
    our prayers are with you!!
    you helped me in times of need and i will not forget what you have done!!
    stay strong- may hashem bless you and your beautiful family!!
    this is all a test but i know that you will overcome this- you and youre family are a true inspiration. no one should go thru this pain.
    ad mosai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • dave

    many people that took the stand today in eliyahus defense were actually some of the alleged victims!
    they all love him!
    DO YOUR RESEARCH CHINFO!

  • criminals

    I’m pretty sure “scamming families” is not a bona fide offense. I agree with the previous poster about helping the truly needy among us. How about the Liberow family. May HKB”H send them an immediate yeshuah.

  • chexposed

    What I find funny and sad at the same time is that the very same people (Eli P. and co.) who were behind the Mesira of the Shomrim six (Six active members of our community) are now putting pressure on the families that could loss their homes, not to testify. They are trying to intimidate them with words like “Mesira”. All of a sudden, its not ok.

    320 Jay street was good and fine, but this..no no no.
    Hypocrites

  • Hypocrites Hypocrites Hypocrites

    For over two years now, Mossrim like Chanina Sperlin and Mendle Hendel and co., Have been pushing for the arrest and prosecution of six members of our community (known to us now as the Shomrim Six). Chanina Sperlin used his political connections to have the Shomrim Six arrested. Chanina Sperlin (son of a felon) later would use his connections to pressure the DA’s office to up the simple misdemeanor charges to felonies which could have easily landed them in jail for 15 years G-d forbid. Any caring and truthful person that took the time to come to court knows as a matter of fact that the Shomrim Six trial was the joke of the court system (every judge, lawyer and law office knows about this joke of a case). The Judge wanted it over before it started but the DA ’s office insisted that it precede (from orders from the top). This case should have not gone to trial, but it did and it and may I add very maliciously.

    Mendle Hendel, Chanina Sperlin, Yaakov Schwei, Zev Cadaner, Eli Poltrak* and Yingy Bistritzky and many others in the community (ranging from mishichist leaders and Mashpiyim and anybody that maybe could help, anybody whom might have some influence) were approached to help stop this Mesira before it went to trial. They all pretended that they can’t do a thing, some even justified and excused.

    Even when the Bais Din sent the Mossrim Hazmona to a Din Torah the day before they were to testify (to inform them that they had no permission) the DA came in the next day threating to lock [G-d forbid] up the Rabbonim for interfering with the law.

    Now, these same people are threating and intimidating residence that could G-d forbid loss their houses not to go testify in court to try and save their homes. I’m not getting in to what did or did not actually happen with Eli Ezagui, thats not the point of this post and let’s not make it about that, this is not a post about Eli Ezagui’s guilt or innocents. This is about how the same people who stood by a few weeks ago and supported, justified and excused a viscous Mesira against Six of our own residents that go above and beyond to do Chesed (acts of goodness and kindness), to make out community a better place, are now all of a sudden helping another Jew and using the “Don’t do Mesira” argument ???

    [Reminder: I don’t know the specifics of whether in this case it was or is a Mesira, each individual must go ask his Rov. What I do know is, that there has not been a letter from any Rav stating that there is no right to testify. Let me make it clear, if they don’t testify, they will loss their homes and those telling them not to are not offering any other alternative].

    Some of these all of a sudden righteous people either straight out supported the Mossrim, Helping them make the complaints; taking them to the Da’s office and flying them in to testify etc… Some of these righteous people just stood by pretending they just can’t do anything, not even protest. These very same people are intimidating members of our community with what, MESIRA???? They are putting immense pressure, telling people that to go testify would be MESIRA. [again, not getting to whether it is or isn’t Mesira, thats not what this post is about]. All of a sudden these same people whom only a few short weeks ago stood by and let a viscous blood libel/Mesira happen (and still is happening with the lawsuit and one Shomrim volunteer still in court on false charges) are worried about Mesira?

    A message to all those who are fighting to keep their homes, tell these Hypocrites to go to hell.

    Ask them where they where when six of your friends and neighbors where being maliciously prosecuted by their fellow Jews? (may I add, not even from Crown Heights). Ask them, how do they still allow this Mesira to go on as they speak to you about how Mesira is bad?. Ask them for a letter from a Bais Din that this is indeed a Mesira. Ask them How they will help you when you loss your house. And must impotently, ask them what is their motive in this. We all know they don’t care about Mesira, so what is it?

    *Eli Poltrak is calling victims of this unfortunate episode and offering them his services as a lawyer. Besides Mesira Mr. Poltrak knows nothing, he can’t help you, don’t let him fool you, he will take your money and run. Eli Poltrak (as heard in testimony in court) was involved in helping the Mossrim in the Shomrim Six case. Eli Poltrak is working together with Paul Huebner to fight against Shomrim and the Rabbonim/Bais Din of our community. Eli Poltrak is a Mosser and lier. This past October (Tishrei), both Poltrak and Codaner were approached and asked to help stop with the Mesira against the Shomrim Six, they just laughed it off and justified and excused Mesira. Poltrak even used the line… “If your innocent, you don’t have anything to worry about”.

  • Orphan aide?

    Giving him money is like the classic of killing your parents then asking for mercy as an orphan.

  • mother in crown heights

    By sending money so that thieves don’t get jail time we are only encouraging more thieves. I’m sorry- yes rich people give more tzeduka- but that doesn’t allow them to take the entire choshen mishpat and throw it out the window! I’m sick that slums exist in crown heights because we can’t call the department of housing. Landlords cheat tenants up and down but we have no recourse. The Rebbe would be sickened by this!!!!!!! HELP THE VICTIMS AND NOT THE VICTIMIZERS!

  • please explain!!

    i am trying to be dan lkaf zechus, but will someone please explain how he did not have intentions to hurt anybody while scamming anash???

  • Crown heights

    The agreements he signed with these people were very clear: they were PURCHASE agreements. They got a steep discount for paying up front, before the apartments would be built; but they were not renters, they were not investors, they were PURCHASERS. Once they were paid up they were owed the deeds, but they didn’t get them. Many of them went to beis din, which ordered him to give them the deed, but he didn’t do so. He took some of THEM to beis din for not paying on time, and once again the beis din ordered them to pay, and him to hand over the deed as soon as they would pay. But he didn’t do so. Instead he put the apartments in his mother’s name and his wife’s name and took out mortgages, and now the banks want to throw the owners out! If they had not sued him they would now be homeless. But once their lawsuit became a matter of public record there was no way to keep it secret from the US Attorney

  • Reb Shlomo in Boca Raton Florida

    Please adhere to Rabbi Milhouse’s plea. See my two comments on vinnews.com. I do not believe Mrs. Ezaagui was involved in any of Eli’s business doings. She is not guilty due to “association”.
    Nice lady. Early 1989’s she moved away to Miami, Florida for more than one year because Eli’s of frauderlent condo deals.

  • who is the needy one here??

    “just bekause he made a mistake it dosint mean we should not help him”

    he didnt make a “mistake”he did not only illegal things but ruined many jewish lives>we should feel sorry that he behaved in such a maaner and didint think before about being above the law.raise funds for the poor families he put in such dire strain.

  • adam

    This case has nothing to do with mesirah. There was no mesirah here. Nobody went to the authorities to make a complaint; the homeowners sued him in civil court, and naturally the US Attorney found out. If he had settled with them and made good their loss, they wouldn’t have had to sue him, and the prosecutors would never have found out what he did. But he left them with no choice; if they didn’t sue him they would be thrown out of their homes. They didn’t want to see him face criminal charges; but they could hardly prevent it, once the facts came out.

  • He took from one of ours

    One second here:
    1) Anash of Crown Heights pay Ezagui for condo

    2) No deed is given

    3) Mortgages are taken out by Ezaguie and his family as if they own the places (they sold it remember from line one?)

    4) Banks want to forclose

    What am I missing?

  • Tzedek T. Tirdof

    I cannot believe that people are defending Ezagui. they are either fools or reshaim gemurim.

    He knew that his victims would lose their homes and he happily did what he did to live in style

    We in CH should not be raising money for him -money which is not Tzedaka in any way, shape or form, we should be sending letters to the judge to put him away for as long as possible

    The Rosh is clear -as is the Maharam Lublin – : Where we cannot punish someone who deserves punishment we ask the “Malchus” to do so.

  • Facts vs Fiction; Research vs Rumors

    Take a look at the contracts gentleman. Ezagui did not sign a purchase agreement with these investors. He signed am IOU note and partnered with these investors in building affordable housing in Crown Heights. Unfortunately, the business deal went bad and the project failed. Who do you think lost the most money in this building? Ezagui did. What do you think happened? He became rich while everyone lost money?! Just the opposite! He became broke trying to save this investment for these investors who are now testifying against him in court.

    Thie was a business deal gone bad. Pure and simple. It is not the case of an evil scammer out to destroy other jewish families. If he was, how come there are over 100 apartments that Ezagui sold and delivered deed on?

    Bottom line is this: If those testifying against Ezagui were able to present a purchase agreement that he didn’t honor, this case would have been closed a long time ago. But they can not because none exist. As a matter of fact, the Feds are not even prosecuting the fact that he scammed people – because they can not. Read the indictment. The indictment discusses the mortgages from the bank which he paid for over 10 years. Are those the actions of someone attempting to scam a bank? Pay a mortgage for 10 years and then run away. Of course not.

    This is a case of a business deal gone bad. The biggest financial loser in this business dealing was Ezagui himself. Read the facts. Look at the contracts. Don’t believe the lies.

  • Stop the Loshon Hora

    If you bother to talk to the people who took Ezagui to civil court, they will all tell you that he is NOT a ganuv, that he did not try to steal from them and that he gave almost all the units he sold to people properly. The development went bankrupt before he could finish delivering all the units. Their lawyer took them for a ride and they are now being subpoenad to maser on him in criminal court. Everyone should give to help him:

    Pidyon Shevuim Fund – NCFJE – Ezagui
    or, if your politics are different:
    Pidyon Shevuim – CHJCC – Ezagui
    By the way, I asked both Rabbonim and they said this is a bona fide Pidyon Shevuim cause.

  • SCAM

    To: Facts vs Fiction; Research vs Rumors,
    when I invest with somebody and they pull double mortgages and scams whos responsible? Even if what you say is true, these “investors” definitely did not sign up for the Ezagui family bank scam.

  • Facts vs Fiction; Research vs Rumors

    SCAM:

    What do you mean by the Ezagui Family Bank Scam? These investors invested in a building with him. The upside was that they may receive a unit. Worst case scenario, Ezagui guaranteed the loan. The investment failed. More so for Ezagui than anyone else. He lost over 3 million dollars in the building. Did you know that the investors actually did alright? They lived in an apartment for close to 10 years on their investment. Slice it up anyway you want: 2 or 3 bedroom in CH for $1,500 a month. Is that a fair estimate. That is $18,000 a year for 10 years. They did OK on their investment.

    The real victim here is Ezagui. He is the victim of a business deal gone bad and his investor’s turning on him. This case is not about poor families being abandoned on the street. That did not happen and will not happen. This is Mesira on Ezagui done “for profit”. He lost more money in this business deal than any of the investors. He did not become rich on the deal. He was rich before he started the project and the project made him poor. And why did he choose to pay the mortgages when 7 years ago it was clear that the building was a failure? Because he cared about the investors. And they backstabbed him.

    Oh, and by the way, do you know which Beis Din ruled against him. The Crown Heights Beis Din with Rabbi Osdaba on it.Rabbi Osdaba was the plaintiff in the case. He was one of the investors in the project and he was the plaintiff. Why is there no outcry against the Crown Heights Beis Din breaking Torah laws, US laws, laws of ethics, etc?

    Get the facts gentleman. Ezagui is in court because people went to the Feds to rat on him because they thought it would help their civil case. Not the other way around.

  • asdfa

    Guess who is writing all those comments above… let’s just say it’s not the people who were hurt by Ezagui. The comments on Vosizneies are far more revealing about the case

  • Facts vs Fiction; Research vs Rumors

    ASDFA:

    Please define “hurt by Ezagui”. What exactly happened to them? Their investment didn’t do as well as they hoped?

    I think the only person who can prove substantial damages here is Ezagui himself.