Metro

William Rapfogel to plead guilty for his role in $7M theft

A longtime pal of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is expected to plead guilty in Manhattan state Supreme Court Wednesday for his role in allegedly stealing more than $7 million from a leading Jewish charity, sources said.

William Rapfogel, former president and CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, will serve three to ten years in prison under the plea agreement for multiple felony counts, sources said.

Rapfogel, head of the anti-poverty agency since 1992, is a close Lower East Side buddy of Silver whose wife, Judith Rapfogel, is the speaker’s chief of staff.

Rapfogel was busted on grand larceny and other charges last September.

Rapfogel was accused in a scheme of directing Met Council’s insurance firm, Century Coverage, to overcharge the anti-poverty agency and then split the proceeds from the scam with the company owner, Joseph Ross.

He also allegedly directed Ross and other employees at Century Coverage to make numerous donations to political campaigns and politicians – including the powerful Assembly speaker.

And he directed that the donations be made in small amounts to maximize the amount of “matching funds” that would come from the city.

Ross previously copped a plea to grand larceny, money laundering and tax fraud and was believed to be cooperating with prosecutors from state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office.

Rapfogel issued a vague apology last September following his bust and firing by the Met Council.

His lawyer, Alan Vinegrad, declined comment Tuesday night.

Another former Met Council director and consultant, Rabbi David Cohen, is also expected to plead guilty Wednesday for his role in the kickback scheme.

His lawyer, Alan Abramson, declined comment.

The attorney general’s office declined comment.

Cohen was head of the Met Council until 1992, when Rapfogel succeeded him in the top job. He continued on as a Met Council consultant until the scandal broke.

Cohen also resigned as CEO of Chevra Hatzalah, the ambulance service, when he was charged in January.