FBI hits 2 addresses in Kiryas Joel raid

Raids carried out by the FBI this week targeted two addresses in the Orthodox Jewish community of Kiryas Joel as simultaneous searches occurred in Ramapo. News 12 cameras were present as nearly two

News 12 Staff

Mar 19, 2016, 3:08 AM

Updated 3,148 days ago

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Raids carried out by the FBI this week targeted two addresses in the Orthodox Jewish community of Kiryas Joel as simultaneous searches occurred in Ramapo.
News 12 cameras were present as nearly two dozen homes, businesses and yeshivas were raided by federal agents as they searched for information under a fraud probe surrounding the alleged misuse of federal E-Rate funds for computers and Internet at private yeshivas.
Authorities confirm that two locations in Kiryas Joel -- on Zlotchev Way and Fillmore Court -- were also raided. Sources say the Kiryas Joel raids centered around two reported computer equipment contractors.
The federal E-Rate program provides money for computers and Internet access for underprivileged schools. It has been highly criticized for years, and the raids highlight possible flaws in how the payments are doled out.
A search of the E-Rate online database shows that out of dozens of private schools in Monroe, only seven receive funding. The top three yeshivas -- United Talmudical Academy, Congregation B'nai Yoel and Sheri Torah -- have received a total of $11.2 million since 1998.
And while those schools were not raided and do not appear to be part of the probe, critics question their use of funds since children taught there belong to a religious sect that opposes computers and Internet, and expels members for having such equipment.
News 12 attempted to contact the yeshivas Friday for comment, but those calls were not returned.