Prosecutors dropped charges Friday against a Brooklyn man accused of extorting a prominent cantor — after two key witnesses were found to lack credibility.
Sam Kellner was charged in 2011 with trying to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from cantor Baruch Lebovits, whom Kellner accused of groping his son.
A prosecutor assigned to re-examine the case found testimony from two witnesses against Kellner, 52, could not be trusted, saying one gave “wildly inconsistent statements.”
“The witnesses have been given full and fair opportunity to be heard, and they are not credible,” said prosecutor Kevin O’Donnell.
Kellner hailed the decision.
“Finally, this ordeal is over,” the Hasidic man said. “I hope that this is going to be a lesson for everyone that, in the end, justice is going to prevail.”
Lebovits’ lawyer later claimed he had damning video that could again incriminate Kellner.
“This case is not over,” said renowned lawyer Alan Dershowitz. “He may very well still be going to jail because this tape is the smoking gun.”
A Brooklyn Supreme Court judge dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning litigation is still possible.