Solomon Dwek: Difference between revisions
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Given the fact that Dwek acted as an [[informant]] in [[Operation Bid Rig]] against individuals allegedly involved in [[organized crime]], and has been under heavy security during his court appearances, it is likely he would be eligible to enter the [[United States Federal Witness Protection Program]]. |
Given the fact that Dwek acted as an [[informant]] in [[Operation Bid Rig]] against individuals allegedly involved in [[organized crime]], and has been under heavy security during his court appearances, it is likely he would be eligible to enter the [[United States Federal Witness Protection Program]]. |
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The [[Syrian Jewish]] community in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]] that Dwek came from was quite surprised that he became a government informant against other [[Syrian Jews]] due to the fact that the community has a long-standing unwritten policy of blanket solidarity. After Solomon Dwek's role as an informant became public, his father Rabbi Issac Dwek gave a speech at the Deal Synagogue in which he stated that his son, Solomon was no longer welcome at his home and denounced jews working as informants against others jews. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=DWEK01 Asbury Park Press: Rise and Fall Inside Solomon Dwek's Empire] |
*[http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=DWEK01 Asbury Park Press: Rise and Fall Inside Solomon Dwek's Empire] |
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*[http://www.lowenstein.com/mhimmel/ Michael B. Himmel - Official Website] |
*[http://www.lowenstein.com/mhimmel/ Michael B. Himmel - Official Website] |
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*[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/beldini_nj_corruption_trial_dw_2.html Star Ledger: Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini is found guilty on two charges in N.J. corruption trial] |
*[http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/beldini_nj_corruption_trial_dw_2.html Star Ledger: Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini is found guilty on two charges in N.J. corruption trial] |
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*[http://www.forward.com/articles/110943/ The Jewish Daily: Foward An Inside Look at a Syrian-Jewish Enclave] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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Revision as of 16:33, 2 March 2010
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (October 2009) |
Solomon Dwek | |
|---|---|
| File:Solomon Dwek PNC.jpeg | |
| Status | on bail awaiting sentencing |
| Spouse | Pearl Dwek |
| Children | 5 Children. Born approx. 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. |
| Parent(s) | Rabbi Isaac Dwek, Raizel Dwek |
| Conviction(s) | Pled gulity: Bank fraud (Federal), misconduct by a corporate official (State) |
Solomon Dwek (also known by his Hebrew name Shlomo שלמה) (born c. 1973) of Deal Park, a neighborhood in Ocean Township, New Jersey is a convicted felon of Sephardic Syrian Orthodox Jewish descent and a former Real Estate Investor who has become an FBI informant.
Dwek led the Deal Yeshiva, (a non-profit Orthodox Jewish religious school which his parents founded) as vice-president, and ran a real estate empire based on a pyramid scheme in and around Monmouth County under multiple business names.
The investors defrauded by Dwek were also members of the local Syrian Jewish community (including relatives of his such as his uncle, Joseph Dwek of Brooklyn who was defrauded of $60.2 million) in which he was well respected and trusted due to the reputation of his parents (who founded a yeshiva) and his appearance as a successful businessman.
Some of the business names used by Dwek included; Dwek Properties LLC, Corbett Holdings II LLC and SEM Realty Associates LLC among many others under which Dwek owned a combined 316 area properties at the time of his arrest by the FBI in 2006, for a $50 million bank fraud involving PNC Bank. After his arrest, he became an informant for the FBI in a private sting called Operation Bid Rig which resulted in the arrest of 44 people in the state of New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York City including public officials, politicians, and 3 Orthodox Rabbis from a Syrian Jewish background.
Prior to his arrest, Dwek was well known for his philanthropy both inside and outside of the Jewish community; such as in 1998 when he befriended Ryan Michael Saberon, a 7 year old non-Jewish boy with terminal cancer whose medical and funeral expenses were paid by him. Dwek also donated money to fund the construction of a memorial monument to Frank Caltabilota; a local student who was killed in the Boland Hall fire at Seton Hall University in 2000. In addition, Dwek personally financed over $30,000 to refurbish the Lumia Theater in Long Branch, New Jersey.
On October 20th, 2009, Dwek plead guilty to federal bank fraud charges in US District Court in Newark, New Jersey and later that day plead guilty to "misconduct by a corporate official" in New Jersey Superior Court, Monmouth Vicinage in Freehold, New Jersey. Dwek was released on $10 million bond until a scheduled prison sentencing date of February 29th 2010. He was represented by lawyer Michael B. Himmel, who specializes in white collar criminal defense.
On February 2nd, 2010 Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, Leona Beldini was convicted in Federal Court in Newark on 2 of 6 corruption related charges stemming from the FBI's Operation Bid Rig. During the trial, Dwek (who had posed as a corrupt developer while working as an informant) appeared as witness for the prosecution and hidden camera films of him interacting with Beldini were displayed as evidence.
Given the fact that Dwek acted as an informant in Operation Bid Rig against individuals allegedly involved in organized crime, and has been under heavy security during his court appearances, it is likely he would be eligible to enter the United States Federal Witness Protection Program.
The Syrian Jewish community in Monmouth County, New Jersey that Dwek came from was quite surprised that he became a government informant against other Syrian Jews due to the fact that the community has a long-standing unwritten policy of blanket solidarity. After Solomon Dwek's role as an informant became public, his father Rabbi Issac Dwek gave a speech at the Deal Synagogue in which he stated that his son, Solomon was no longer welcome at his home and denounced jews working as informants against others jews.
References
- Asbury Park Press: Rise and Fall Inside Solomon Dwek's Empire
- Operation Bid Rig
- Star Ledger
- NY Times: Many in Deal, N.J., Feel Betrayed by Solomon Dwek - NYTimes.com
- Daily News: Solomon Dwek: From bogus mogul to FBI's busiest rat
- Yeshiva fighting off foreclosure
- Dwek Political Contributions (identifies occupation as Rabbi and Real Estate)
- PNC vs Dwek NJ Civil Case Documents
- DOJ Prominent Monmouth County Real Estate Developer Pleads Guilty in $50 Million Bank Fraud Scheme
- Star Ledger: Details emerge on Solomon Dwek, informant in N.J. corruption probe, after guilty pleas
- Michael B. Himmel - Official Website
- Star Ledger: Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini is found guilty on two charges in N.J. corruption trial
- The Jewish Daily: Foward An Inside Look at a Syrian-Jewish Enclave