Edited by: www.TJVNews.com
Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced on Monday new charges against the leaders of the notorious Lev Tahor cult that has engaged in nefarious practices for years. The US Attorney named Nachman Helbrans, the leader of the cult as well as Mayer Rosner, Yakov Weingarten, Shmiel Weingarten and Yoil Weingarten as individuals who have conspired to (1) transport a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and (2) travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in connection with the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl (“Minor-1”) from New York to reunite her with her adult “husband” outside the United States for purposes of continuing their sexual relationship. The defendants, among other members of Lev Tahor, were previously charged with several other crimes related to the kidnapping of Minor-1 and her younger brother.
Lev Tahor is widely described as an ultra-Orthodox Jewish cult that was founded by Shlomo Helbrans. It generally follows a strict version of Jewish law, including its own unique practices such as lengthy prayer sessions, arranged marriages between underage children and adults as well as black, head-to-toe coverings for females beginning at age three. The group has faced allegations of kidnapping, sexual abuse, and child abuse, and has been referred to as a dangerous sect.
Originally having established his community in Israel, which he claimed to have modeled after the Satmar Hasidic movement, Shlomo Helbrans moved his vehemently anti-Zionist community to the United States, where he was convicted in 1994 for kidnapping and served two years in prison. During this time he was accused by a few former community members of child abuse, serving medicine and psychological pills, and using various punishments on his followers.
He was deported back to Israel, but in 2001 he fled to Canada, where he reestablished his community in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, applying for and attaining refugee status for himself two years later. In November 2013, amid clashes with the education authorities, most members of the group left for Ontario, again claiming religious persecution. On July 7, 2017, Helbrans drowned while performing a ritual immersion in a river in Mexico at the age of 54.
U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated: “As alleged, the defendants engaged in a brazen kidnapping of a minor girl in the middle of the night, taking her across the border to Mexico in order to reunite her with her adult ‘husband’ to continue their sexual relationship. These charges send a clear message that the sexual exploitation of children will not be tolerated.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. stated: “International borders will not stop the FBI from pursuing justice and enforcing violations of our laws, especially when you target children. The behavior alleged today is outrageous, and there is no justification for it whatsoever. We are grateful for the excellent cooperation from our partners in Mexico and Guatemala who helped us hold these leaders of Lev Tahor accountable for their behavior. Protecting innocent children should be a priority for all of society – it’s certainly one of ours. If you know of children who are being trafficked, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or www.fbi.tips.gov.”
