Jump to content

Jacob Ostreicher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sholom88 (talk | contribs) at 02:49, 17 December 2013 (Freed). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Jacob Ostreicher
Jacob Ostreicher in Santa Cruz, Palmasola Prison
Born (1959-02-07) February 7, 1959 (age 65)
Brooklyn, New York
Occupation(s)Agriculture and Flooring
SpouseMiriam Ungar
Parent(s)David Ostreicher (father)
Violet Ostreicher (mother)

Jacob Ostreicher (born 1959) is an American entrepreneur and flooring contractor. In June 2011, he was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia while overseeing a rice growing agricultural venture that he had invested in, and currently remains under house arrest.[1] Ostreicher maintains his innocence[2] and stated that the allegations by the Bolivian government are "the scam of the century".[3] His family and friends initiated a public effort to plea for his release.

On December 18 Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail.[4]

Bolivian officials were later arrested for what authorities state was an extortion ring.[5][6]

Jacob finally left Bolivia on December 16, 2013.[7][8][9]

Background

Personal life

Ostreicher was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1959 to David and Violet Ostreicher, both Orthodox Jews. He and his wife Miriam have 5 children and 11 grandchildren.[10]

Bolivian investment and arrest

A group of investors including Ostreicher and Geneva lawyer Andre Zolty invested at least $25 million in a rice farming project in Bolivia in 2008. Zolty stated that the idea originally came from Claudia Liliana Rodriguez who he had worked with in Geneva. The investors became concerned with irregularities and suspected that Rodriguez was cheating them. Ostreicher was dispatched to Bolivia to handle the situation, and pursued criminal charges against Rodriguez. The investors also state that Rodriguez became involved in a romantic and financial relationship with a drug trafficker by the name of Maximiliano Dorado.[11]

Dorado was arrested in 2010, and was imprisoned in Brazil.[11][12]

On June 4, 2011, after an initial investigation, Ostreicher was arrested for suspicion of money laundering and criminal organization.[12] The prosecutors also claimed that one of the investors, Andre Zolty, was under investigation in Switzerland, however, the Swiss authorities have denied this.[11] Rodriguez has also been arrested.[11] Ostreicher was imprisoned at Palmasola prison.[13]

Ostreicher was brought before a judge who after several hearings ordered for him to be released on September 23, 2011.[14] However the judge reversed his decision a week later. A month later the judge was promoted and a new judge was assigned to the case. Following several postponements, the 2nd judge recused himself from the case; no other judge has yet to be assigned.[15]

A marriage certificate showing Ostreicher was married in Bolivia was entered into evidence during the September 23 hearing. Ostreicher has denied that he is married to a Bolivian.[12]

Ostreicher was visited by actor Sean Penn on October 31, 2012.[16][17]

Bolivian law allows for imprisonment without charge for 18 months during the investigative phase.[18] Since Ostreicher was arrested in early June 2011 the 18 month mark occurred in early December 2012.

Ostreicher appeared in a hearing on Tuesday, December 11, and the judge ordered that the case be sent back to the lower court. Actor Sean Penn was present at the hearing.[19]

On December 18 Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and is currently under house arrest.[4]

Twelve people including prosecutors, government officials, and the judge who originally had Ostreicher imprisoned have been arrested in what authorities say was an extortion ring.[6][20]

• Gustavo Dagner Cespedes Rosales Arrested on 11/27/2012 – Minister of Government’s Representative in Santa Cruz.
• Fernando Rivera Tardio - Arrested on 11/28/2012 – One of the ring leaders of the “The Red” - Attended most of Jacob’ Ostreicher's hearings and threatened judges openly with arrest if they were to release Jacob. Fernando Rivera was the Judicial Counsel for the Minister of Government.
• Denis Efrain Rodas Limachi – Arrested 11/29/2012 – Worked together with Fernando Rivera Tardio.
• Jose Manuel Antezana Pinaya – Arrested on 11/26/2012 – worked in the office of the “Ministry of Presidency”.
• Roberto Isabelino Gomez Cervero : Arrested 12/3/2012 – Former District Attorney of Santa Cruz Bolivia.
• Miguel Alberto Gutierrez Soliz : Arrested 12/3/2012 – Lawyer for DIRCABI (Gov’t Division in charge of confiscated goods).
• Mosies Aguilera Lopez : Arrested 12/11/2012 – Administrator of DIRCABI (Gov’t Division in charge of confiscated goods).
• Janet Velarde Luna : Arrested on 12/8/2012 – Lead Prosecutor in Jacob’s case (until a few months ago. She requested a transfer to another division).
• Roberto Acha Arandia : Arrested on 12/20/2012 – Prosecutor in tandem with Janet Velarde Luna (was removed several months ago after a DUI).
• Cori Balcaza De Acha : Arrested on 12/20/2012 – Wife of Roberto Acha implicated in extortion.
• Boris Villegas Rocabado : Arrested 12/11/12 – Head of Internal Affairs.
• Ramiro Ordonez Lopez – Arrested.
• Franklin Pedraza Suarez – Under House Arrest – Employee of DIRCABI.
• Ariel Rocha – Arrest warrant issued 12/19/2012 Fled the country.

Public campaigns

Rally

A rally was held for Ostreicher in front of the Bolivian Mission in New York City on May 3, 2012.[21] The rally was arranged by Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind.

Man holding a sign at a rally in NYC

White House petition

On May 3, 2012, supporters of Ostreicher initiated an online petition on the White House We the People website requesting the Obama Administration to assist in the effort to free Jacob. As of June 5, 2012, 35,635 people signed the petition. A total of 25,000 signatures was needed by June 2, 2012 in order to submit the petition to the White House; this requirement has been met.

Congressional Hearings

Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ)[22] held a hearing in the Congress on June 6, 2012, to investigate the role that the United States Department of State has played in helping free Jacob from Bolivia.[23]

Hearings were also held on August 1, 2012 and May 20, 2013.[24][25][26]

References

  1. ^ Joseph Berger (2013-01-01). "For Brooklyn Entrepreneur, Bolivian Jail and an Actor's Aid". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  2. ^ Moran, Terry (11 May 2012). "American Sits Almost a Year With No Charges in Isolated Bolivian Prison". ABC News - Nightline. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ^ Lipman, Jennifer (May 3, 2012). "Rally to support Orthodox man jailed in Bolivia". THE JEWISH CHRONICLE ONLINE. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Jacob Ostreicher released from Bolivian prison". Jweekly. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Bolivian Officials Arrested in Plot To Extort New York Businessman". New York Times. Associated Press. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b Lauren Effron; Alex Waterfield (28 November 2012). "7 Bolivian Officials Arrested, Accused of Extorting Jailed American Man". ABC News. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Jacob Ostreicher Free". FailedMessiah.com. FailedMessiah.com. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Jacob Ostreicher In US After Being Kidnapped from Bolivia". The Lakewood Scoop. TLS. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Jacob Ostreicher Has Been Released From Bolivia and is Back in The United States". The Yeshiva World News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  10. ^ Moran, Terry (11 May 2012). "American Sits Almost a Year With No Charges in Isolated Bolivian Prison". Retrieved 5 October 2012. five children and 11 grandchildren
  11. ^ a b c d Bajak, Frank; Flores, Paola. "US man sits 10 months in Bolivian jail, uncharged". Associated Press. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Empresario agrícola recupera su libertad". El Día. September 24, 2011.
  13. ^ Egea, Manuel (2009-12-17). "Latin American prisons are 'territories of the underworld'". Infosurhoy.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  14. ^ Valdez, Carlos (2011-09-26). "US businessman gets out of Bolivian jail".
  15. ^ "US Orthodox Jew sits 10 months in Palmasola, a Bolivian jail, uncharged". The Times of Israel.
  16. ^ "Sean Penn visitó a su compatriota preso en cárcel de Santa Cruz". Opinión. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Penn gets multiple requests in Bolivia". Associated Press. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  18. ^ "2010 Human Rights Report: Bolivia". U.S. Department of State. the law establishes that a case's investigatory phase cannot exceed a maximum of 18 months
  19. ^ "Bolivian appeals court does not release N.Y. Jewish businessman". JTA. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  20. ^ Carlos Valdez; Frank Bajak (10 December 2012). "Extortion of American Stings Bolivian Officials". AP. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  21. ^ Schmidt, Linda (May 3, 2012). "Fox 5 NY with Linda Schmidt at the Free Jacob Ostreicher Rally featuring Dov Hikind". Fox 5 NY. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  22. ^ "US Congressman Chris Smith to hold hearing on Jacob Ostreicher". Youtube. tlseditor. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  23. ^ "Rep. Smith Holds Hearing on Case of American Jacob Ostreicher: "The U.S. State Department's Inadequate Response to Human Rights Concerns in Bolivia"". America's Forum. June 6, 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  24. ^ "Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress: Seeking Freedom for American Trapped in Bolivian Prison" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  25. ^ Office of Congressman Chris Smith (1 August 2012). "American Businessman Trapped in Bolivia Topic of House Hearing". Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress: Advocating for American Jacob Ostreicher's Freedom after Two Years in Bolivian Detention". U.S. Government Printing Office. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob_Ostreicher&oldid=586436005"