• About
  • Support AJW
  • Jewish Community Directory
  • Subscription Information
  • Contact Us
American Jewish World
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Europe
    • Israel/Mideast
    • Latin America
    • Minnesota
    • US & Canada
    Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

    Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

    Les Block, our music maven

    Les Block, our music maven

    ‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

    ‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

  • Arts
    • All
    • Blue Box
    • Books & Literature
    • Music
    • Televison & Film
    • Theater & Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    Les Block, our music maven

    Les Block, our music maven

    Journey to the old land of woe

    Journey to the old land of woe

    Jews bring the funny to the Fringe

    Jews bring the funny to the Fringe

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Travel & Culture
    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • AJW Digital Archives
  • News
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Europe
    • Israel/Mideast
    • Latin America
    • Minnesota
    • US & Canada
    Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

    Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

    Les Block, our music maven

    Les Block, our music maven

    ‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

    ‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

  • Arts
    • All
    • Blue Box
    • Books & Literature
    • Music
    • Televison & Film
    • Theater & Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    Les Block, our music maven

    Les Block, our music maven

    Journey to the old land of woe

    Journey to the old land of woe

    Jews bring the funny to the Fringe

    Jews bring the funny to the Fringe

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Travel & Culture
    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • AJW Digital Archives
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Two Israelis plead guilty in MOA kiosk scam

American Jewish World by American Jewish World
May 23, 2020
in News
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

READ ALSO

Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

Les Block, our music maven

By MORDECAI SPECKTOR
Two Israelis charged with multiple felony counts of unlawfully employing young Israelis at a Mall of America store and kiosks have pleaded guilty.
A Nov. 25 trial date had been set for Yosi Rachamim, 31, and Yehiel Shpitser, 30. However, both men waived “prosecution by indictment” in November, and pleaded guilty to two felonies, “conspiracy to knowingly hire 10 or more unlawful aliens” and “knowingly hiring 10 or more unlawful aliens.”
As the AJW previously reported, the two Israelis operated YA & YA USA, Inc., which sells hair and beauty products from five kiosks and a store at the Mall of America.

One of the three Hollywood Hair kiosks operated by YA & YA USA at Mall of America. (Photo: Mordecai Specktor)
One of the three Hollywood Hair kiosks operated by YA & YA USA at Mall of America. (Photo: Mordecai Specktor)

The original indictment alleged that from Sept. 21, 2009 through June 19, 2010, Rachamim and Shpitser conspired to recruit young Israelis entering the U.S. on tourist visas to illegally work for YA & YA. The Israeli employees were housed at the Pebble Brook Apartments in Bloomington in apartments leased by Avraham Nadivi, the CEO of YA & YA, according to the grand jury indictment.
Israelis Adam Vaknin, 32, and Nadivi, 31, also were indicted in the case, but they are in Israel and now out of the reach of federal authorities.
The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota prosecuted the case against the four Israelis, following an investigation by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), and the HSI-led multi-agency Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.
Rachamim and Shpitser likely will be sentenced in February, at the earliest, according to Deborah K. Ellis, of the Ellis Law Office in St. Paul, who is the attorney for Rachamim. She told the AJW last week that her client could receive a short prison sentence, in the range of six to 12 months.
Prior to sentencing, reports will be issued, and the defendants will have an opportunity to respond.
“There’s a probation officer that prepares a presentence report,” Ellis explained. “Once we get that report, there’s some other timeframes that kick in.”
In response to a question about whether the two Israelis, who apparently have resident alien status in the United States, would be deported back to Israel after serving prison time, Ellis said that a goal in the negotiations with the U.S. attorney was “to put them in the best position possible for any potential immigration proceedings that would follow.”
Ellis noted that there are various classes of felonies — “aggravated felonies and there are felonies that involve moral turpitude” — so Rachamim’s conviction might “not automatically end up in a deportation.”
Ellis pointed out that Rachamim, who is living in California, was allowed by U.S. District Judge David S. Doty to travel to Israel, in late November, to attend his younger sister’s wedding. Upon his return in December, he was required to surrender his passport to a pretrial services agent with the federal court.
“His goal all along has been to stay in this country,” Ellis commented about her client.
In a related case, Lihi Aliza Elgrably, an Israeli employed by YA & YA, pleaded guilty in late November to one felony count of “possession of an immigration document procured by false statement.”
In July 2013, she was charged with one count of visa fraud. Elgrably’s indictment alleged that from January 27 to February 15, 2010, she submitted a petition to adjust her immigration status and allegedly withheld information about her employment with YA & YA.
Like the YA & YA executives, Elgrably will be sentenced upon completion of a presentence investigation and report.
(American Jewish World, 1.17.14)

Related Posts

Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down
Minnesota

Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

August 9, 2023
Les Block, our music maven
Minnesota

Les Block, our music maven

August 8, 2023
‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99
Minnesota

‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

August 10, 2023
Jews bring the funny to the Fringe
Theater & Performing Arts

Jews bring the funny to the Fringe

August 7, 2023
Newman School in St. Paul closes
Minnesota

Newman School in St. Paul closes

July 23, 2023
‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue
Featured

‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

June 7, 2023
Next Post

Oakland Jewish official targeted with swastikas

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT ARTICLES

Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

Rabbi Harold Kravitz steps down

August 9, 2023
News from the Jewish World — and the Jewish world

News from the Jewish World — and the Jewish world

August 9, 2023
Les Block, our music maven

Les Block, our music maven

August 8, 2023
‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

‘Rav’ and ‘chaver,’ rabbi and friend, Kassel Abelson dies at 99

August 10, 2023
Journey to the old land of woe

Journey to the old land of woe

August 7, 2023

About

Since 1912 the AJW has served as an important news resource for the Jewish community. The Jewish World unites the main Jewish communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as those in Duluth, Rochester and smaller cities, and bridges the divides between the various Jewish religious streams.

Quick Links

  • About the AJW
  • Advertising Information
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Subscription Information
  • Jewish Community Directory

Contact Us

The American Jewish World
3249 Hennepin Ave., Suite 245
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Tel: 612.824.0030 / Fax: 612.823.0753
editor@ajwnews.com

  • Buy JNews
  • Landing Page
  • Documentation
  • Support Forum

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
  • News
  • Food
  • Health & Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.