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Sentence Hearings Conclude, Rubashkin Cries Shema Yisrael

Family and friends of Sholom Morechai Rubashkin outside the Northern District of Iowa Federal court house

CEDAR RAPIDS [CHI] — Federal prosecutors asked Federal Judge, Linda Reade today, Thursday to sentence Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin to 25 years in prison, less than the life sentence they initially requested.

Sholom Rubashkin, dressed in an orange jump suit and chains, gave a tearful speech at the end of his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He told the court he had made mistakes and was remorseful. In a thick Brooklyn accent, he reiterated that he was sorry for his actions, and that he was put in a position by his family of running the operations of a large plant for which he had no training or interest.

“I’m basically a conflicted and flawed human being,” Rubashkin said. “Conflicted in that I allowed myself to be drafted into my family’s business against my wishes and better judgment.

”I basically should have stayed in teaching and being an emissary (Shliach.)“

Sholom Mordechai begged forgiveness from his wife and children, saying that they are the victims here. He went on to say how much his family is going to suffer, ”Its all out of my hands.“

At the tearful conclusion to Rubashkin speech, he said that when a Jew leaves this world he recites Shema Yisrael. Sholom then went on to recite the passage, along with his supporters in the courtroom.

Prosecutors initially said they intended to request a life sentence in pre-sentencing documents. But assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Deegan said Thursday in court that the government would seek 25 years and not life, which is ”usually reserved for violent criminals.“

Defense attorney Guy Cook, who had requested a six-year sentence, said the request for 25 years would essentially be a life sentence for the 50-year-old Rubashkin. Cook asked that he serve it at a facility in Otisville, N.Y., which better caters to the needs of Hasidic Jews.

”He only has about 25 or 26 years left on this earth,“ Cook said. ”Twenty-five years is a life sentence.”

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade says she’ll issue a ruling on May 27

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28 Comments

  • No Justice, no Reade!

    We can’t stop the pressure just because the witnesses are all done. Things can still be fair IF pressure is brought to bear by Eric Holder from the Justice Dept.

    The whole thing is vindictive bias.

  • Shema Yisrael!

    He ended with the cry of Shema Yisroel, no doubt because that is what the Rebbe Rashab recommended that Beilis do in his closing words at his blood libel trial in Russia.
    This case strongly resembles that one. Sholom did not cause the bank or anyone else to lose a dime. The government caused the bank loss by closing Agri via their raid and then want him to sit out his life in jail, chas veshalom, for the loss that they personally caused!
    This extra-heavily handed handling, conditions, trial proceedings, sentencing, etc., is unprecedented in American history and is ethically completely unacceptable. A blood libel of sorts, that even the skeptic must admit if he honestly examines the details of the case.
    Indeed, it will be good in the end, and Shema Yisrael, all Jews will hear and acknowledge, that Hashem Elokeinu, the Gaurdian of Israel, is Hashem Echod, the only One who always has the final word and watches over us wherever we are in the four directions of the earth, under the seven heavens. Shema Yisrael, al tirah avdi yaakov.

  • Avi

    We won’t give up, we will file for an appeal. The Czar and Communists couldn’t stop us and neither will these Jew haters.

  • Hashem please help these incredible peop

    I think it is important that Sholom Mordechai and Leah as well as the rest of the family know that we are all behind them in every way. We will never stop fighting -both b’ruchius and b’gashmius’ until he is a free man again.

  • DINA GUREVITCH

    WHAT DID HE DO WRONG? JUST FREE HIM ALREADY! PLEASE???????!!!!!!!!!!!

  • anonymous

    Keep up all the extra mitvos we have been doing up until now! Dont stop…We can tip the scale for Sholom Mordechai halevi’s zechus!!

  • Re commenter -shema yisroel

    Commenter “shema yisroel!” for concisely puts the situation into its very true perspective and with such words of inspiration..

  • rivkie

    Maybe we have to make a lot more noise…..the prosecutors above and below will give up if they see how many defense ‘angels’ Sholom has. We have to be his defense angels, speaking only good about him and his family, doing only good and adding in mitzvahs on his behalf, and praying constantly.
    But honestly making a lot of noise should help…..when a shvartza was arrested and was going to be locked up for years, all the other shvartzas rioted and he was released and the case dropped.
    okay, maybe we as yidden cannot riot in the same manner, but we can make a lot of noise and fight the injustice all the way.
    May the zechut of Rabbi Shimon on Lag Bomer mamash bring a complete yeshuah.

  • Hope for 8

    The extreme requests are coming together a 10 or 12 year sentence is in the cards. If the federal system allows time off for good behavior or parole then 8 years might be the max he will serve.
    It still sounds bad but a lot better then 20.

    Unfortunately it was the 86 count guilty conviction that sealed it.

  • We will have Didan Netzach YH

    each one of us MUST continue to daven, gather for Tehilim, say his Kapital (51), and take on hachlotos. I am SURE all our efforts will open the gates of heaven and remove this terrible decree. We must continue with all our extra davening, now more than ever. We will have Didan Netzach in the end. May all the Rubashkin family have the strenght and courage to hold on and may we have the complete Geula today.

  • Victory Now.

    Kol Yisroel Areivim ze laze. Let us all continue with our extra tehilim, davening and extra mitzvos, to help bring the wonderful Rubashkin family complete victory.

  • Milhouse

    “Hope for 8”, there is NO SUCH THING as parole. 12 years is 12 years and not a day less.

  • Rivkah

    Tefillin is a verz good waz to help Sholom!!! Get people to put on Tefillin!!!

  • Words of support to the Rubashkin family

    Anyone who would like to send emails to the Rubashkin family, giving words of support, and giving brochos etc. can do so by emailing SMRubashkin@gmail.com

  • soo soo much achdus Flatbush BP Williams

    clicking HELPS! (spread the word = huge outcry from ordinary citizens!
    hashem pays close attention to see how each person reacts to seeing a fellow yid BTZARA!

    its not enough to have BeTachon

    Hashem requires a Hishtadlus/Actions (or @ least spread the word to others who will do what they can)

    this link Made a huge Kidush H’ by the outpoor of ahavas yisroel & achdus

    http://www.youtube.com/watc…

  • dovid Labe

    the rebbe compares the time when r’ shimon bar yochai was in the cave, to the alter rebbe when he was in prison. In the end, it was all better than before. And also says that The time of lab b’omer is the time when Rashb’i is poi’el yeshu’os. so lets believe that its just history repeating itself again. and the rebbe adds that every one’s life must include the above aspect. moshiach now!

  • dont b silent!

    ARE YOU SMARTER THAN 100s of lawyers 6 Former US DISTRICT ATTORNEYS!! YOUR BLIND HATE IS SOO OBVIOUS as is YOUR IGNORANCE OF PRECEDENT…

  • Unbelievable

    Some murderers get less time than 25 years. i just do not understand this. Eight years is too much! If they feel they have to give him a sentence to make it look like they are doing something, how about six months of home monitoring? Don’t they realize they are giving his FAMILY a death sentence as well? This is not a horrible, dangerous man, or some sort of Bernie Madoff. Come on, people!

  • Joshua

    The justice system has the light shining upon it and it is not a pretty picture. It is actually an outrage from Eric holder down and Eric Holder and President Obama up. Who indeed allowed this travesty of government excess to go so far This is a dark and unsavory process that is showing its warts too close to home and I wonder who else has been shafted aside and denied their legal rights as human beings and American citizens – by a justice system without the proper checks and balances in place. This is very unerving and the Judge should look and reflect upon the system and people she serves and know that she can only do justice by throwing out the twentfive year talk and replace it with something far less draconian. The lesson of respect for the law has been learnt by the people involved and then some. Its time to get real and fair and wrap up this case with the real American ideal of liberty and justice for ALL

  • this is good news!!!!

    does anyone else see this as good news that it is?!!!! it is truly a miracle that the prosecution changed their request down to 25 years or less. now we must continue to think positively, to daven and do mitvot, and to keep up the good faith that justice will prevail!