N.Y. Charity’s Ex-Chief of Finances Gets 4 Months in Kickback Scheme

The former chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was sentenced Tuesday to a four-month prison term for his role in a long-running fraud that siphoned $9-million from the New York City charity, the Jewish Daily Forward reports.

Herbert Friedman pleaded guilty in May to charges of grand larceny and conspiracy charges. The 80-year-old admitted to receiving some $250,000 from the 20-year scheme involving officials of the social-service charity and its insurer. The state attorney general’s office said Mr. Friedman had made restitution to the council.

Authorities say the conspiracy involved inflated premium payments to the council’s insurance firm and kickbacks to charity leaders. Two former chief executives of the council, David Cohen and William Rapfogel, also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, as is Joseph Ross, the former head of the insurance company.