Solomon Dwek
Encyclopedia
Solomon Dwek (born c. 1973) of Deal Park, a neighborhood in Ocean Township, New Jersey
, United States
, is a convicted felon
of Sephardic Syrian Jewish descent. Dwek was a former real estate investor who became an FBI informant.
in and around Monmouth County under multiple business names, and was vice-president of the Deal Yeshiva, (a non-profit Orthodox Jewish religious school which his parents founded). 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. Dwek was well respected and trusted due to the reputation of his parents, who founded a yeshiva
, as well as his own appearance as a successful businessman. 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 $55,000 to refurbish the Lumia Theater in Long Branch, New Jersey
.
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. Those arrested by authorities included public officials, politicians, and three Orthodox Rabbis from a Syrian Jewish background. PNC bank, along with two other financial firms filed an involuntary liquidation petition on Feb. 9, 2007, that forced Dwek into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. He allegedly owes PNC $22.9 million, Washington Mutual $22.7 million, and Four Star Builders $58,388. The bankruptcy was converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization.
on 2 of 6 corruption related charges stemming from the FBI's Operation Bid Rig
. The split verdict in Leona Beldini's case was hailed as a victory by both sides and may have cast doubt on the government's use of Solomon Dwek as an informant. Leona Beldini was represented by prominent defense attorneys Brian J. Neary and S. Emile Lisboa IV. During the trial, Dwek while working as an informant posing as a corrupt developer named "David Esenbach", appeared as a witness for the prosecution. Hidden camera films of him interacting with Beldini, were displayed as evidence. Dwek testified for five days and cried on the stand under cross examination by Brian J. Neary when asked whether he had any friends. Dwek also testified that he bribed his math teacher in high school in order to graduate. During the trial, it was revealed that the government hired a private contractor (a former F.B.I. agent) to conduct a wire tap of political consultant Jack Shaw's telephones. This same private contractor was hired by Dwek to provide security services and was paid $50,000 by Dwek. Dwek has been in hiding since his role as an informant became public. On March 19, 2010, defense attorneys for Leona Beldini filed a motion to overturn the verdict.
, as well as him being under heavy security during his court appearances, it is likely he would be eligible to enter the United States Federal Witness Protection Program
following his eventual release from prison after a future sentencing date. 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 because 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. He also denounced the practice of acting as a government informant against other Jews.
On June 21, 2011, Dwek was arrested for car theft and was denied bail. At the time of the sentencing Dwek's lawyer noted that Dwek had six children, the youngest an eight week old baby.http://www.northjersey.com/news/_Bail_revoked_for_key_government_witness_in_ex-Secaucus_mayors_extortion_trial.html
On July 14, 2011, the car theft charges were dropped. However, Dwek is still imprisoned in the Essex county jail awaiting sentencing.http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/rental_car_charges_against_fbi.html
Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 27,291.Oakhurst and Wanamassa Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is a convicted felon
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
of Sephardic Syrian Jewish descent. Dwek was a former real estate investor who became an FBI informant.
Personal profile
Dwek ran a real estate empire based on a pyramid schemePyramid scheme
A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public...
in and around Monmouth County under multiple business names, and was vice-president of the Deal Yeshiva, (a non-profit Orthodox Jewish religious school which his parents founded). 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. Dwek was well respected and trusted due to the reputation of his parents, who founded a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, as well as his own appearance as a successful businessman. 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
Boland Hall Fire
The Boland Hall fire was a fatal fire in Boland Hall, a freshman residence hall on the Seton Hall University campus in South Orange, New Jersey, United States on January 19, 2000. Three students died and many more were injured. It was one of the deadliest college fires in recent U.S...
at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in 2000. In addition, Dwek personally financed $55,000 to refurbish the Lumia Theater in Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
.
Business dealings
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, he was taken into custody for a $50 million bank fraudBank fraud
Bank fraud is the use of fraudulent means to obtain money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution, or to obtain money from depositors by fraudulently representing to be a bank or financial institution. In many instances, bank fraud is a criminal offense...
involving PNC Bank. After his arrest, he became an informant for the FBI in a private sting called Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
which resulted in the arrest of 44 people in the state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Brooklyn, New York. Those arrested by authorities included public officials, politicians, and three Orthodox Rabbis from a Syrian Jewish background. PNC bank, along with two other financial firms filed an involuntary liquidation petition on Feb. 9, 2007, that forced Dwek into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. He allegedly owes PNC $22.9 million, Washington Mutual $22.7 million, and Four Star Builders $58,388. The bankruptcy was converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization.
Arrest
On October 20, 2009, Dwek pled guilty to federal bank fraud charges in US District Court in Newark, New Jersey and later that day pled 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 29, 2010. He was represented by lawyer Michael B. Himmel, who specializes in white collar criminal defense. On February 2, 2010, Deputy Mayor of Jersey City Leona Beldini, was convicted in Federal Court in NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
on 2 of 6 corruption related charges stemming from the FBI's Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
. The split verdict in Leona Beldini's case was hailed as a victory by both sides and may have cast doubt on the government's use of Solomon Dwek as an informant. Leona Beldini was represented by prominent defense attorneys Brian J. Neary and S. Emile Lisboa IV. During the trial, Dwek while working as an informant posing as a corrupt developer named "David Esenbach", appeared as a witness for the prosecution. Hidden camera films of him interacting with Beldini, were displayed as evidence. Dwek testified for five days and cried on the stand under cross examination by Brian J. Neary when asked whether he had any friends. Dwek also testified that he bribed his math teacher in high school in order to graduate. During the trial, it was revealed that the government hired a private contractor (a former F.B.I. agent) to conduct a wire tap of political consultant Jack Shaw's telephones. This same private contractor was hired by Dwek to provide security services and was paid $50,000 by Dwek. Dwek has been in hiding since his role as an informant became public. On March 19, 2010, defense attorneys for Leona Beldini filed a motion to overturn the verdict.
Aftermath
Given the fact that Dwek acted as an informant in Operation Bid Rig against individuals allegedly involved in organized crimeOrganized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, as well as him being under heavy security during his court appearances, it is likely he would be eligible to enter the United States Federal Witness Protection Program
United States Federal Witness Protection Program
The United States Federal Witness Protection Program is a witness protection program administered by the United States Department of Justice and operated by the United States Marshals Service that is designed to protect threatened witnesses before, during, and after a trial.A few states, including...
following his eventual release from prison after a future sentencing date. 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 because 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. He also denounced the practice of acting as a government informant against other Jews.
On June 21, 2011, Dwek was arrested for car theft and was denied bail. At the time of the sentencing Dwek's lawyer noted that Dwek had six children, the youngest an eight week old baby.http://www.northjersey.com/news/_Bail_revoked_for_key_government_witness_in_ex-Secaucus_mayors_extortion_trial.html
On July 14, 2011, the car theft charges were dropped. However, Dwek is still imprisoned in the Essex county jail awaiting sentencing.http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/rental_car_charges_against_fbi.html