Orthodox Jewish rabbis convicted over kidnapping ring that forced husbands to sign divorce forms
Three Orthodox Jewish rabbis were convicted in New Jersey of conspiracy to commit kidnapping in a scheme to force men to grant divorces to their unhappy wives under Jewish law.
Three Orthodox Jewish rabbis were convicted in New Jersey of conspiracy to commit kidnapping in a scheme to force men to grant divorces to their unhappy wives under Jewish law.
Two of the rabbis were also convicted in federal court on Tuesday of attempted kidnapping, according to the office of Paul Fishman, US attorney for New Jersey. The case before US District Judge Freda Wolfson hinged in part on the testimony of an undercover FBI agent who posed as an Orthodox Jewish wife seeking a divorce.
An Orthodox Jewish woman cannot get a religious divorce unless her husband consents through a document known as a "get". Prosecutors said the rabbis operated a ring that kidnapped or tried to kidnap men and tortured them with beatings and stun guns until they agreed to divorce.
Undercover agents recorded meetings in which arrangements were made for the ring to kidnap one husband at a New Jersey warehouse for US$60,000.
The conspiracy charge carries the possible sentence of life in prison, according to the US Attorney's office.