A judge sentenced the disgraced former head of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty Wednesday for ripping off $9 million from the charity as his wife – the ex-chief of staff for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver – looked on.
“I deeply regret harming the organization that I worked so hard to build and that I hurt and disappointed many people, especially the clients, the staff and the board of Met Council,” an emotionless William Rapfogel read from a brief written statement. “I have tried hard to make amends. But I also recognize that what I did was seriously wrong and that I will continue to pay a heavy price for my actions.”
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Larry Stephen handed down the promised 3 1/3-to-10-year sentence for the grand larceny, money laundering and tax fraud convictions.
Rapfogel was led to a back room for processing as over a dozen family and friends watched from the gallery.
Judith, the fallen charity big’s wife declined to comment to reporters as she left the courthouse.
Rapfogel admitted to looting nearly $9 million from the charity in a plea deal taken last April. He also paid $3 million in restitution in accordance with his agreement with Manhattan prosecutors.
“This sentence you’re about to hand down the defendant warranted in this case, given the nature of defendant’s conduct and lack of contrition to date,” said state Attorney General prosecutor Gary Fishman.
“Over a 20-year period of time he conspired with others to steal over 9 million and personally stole 3 million from the people who needed it most to benefit himself and his lifestyle.”
Rapfogel was the mastermind of the two-decade scheme to scam the Met Council by inflating insurance premiums with the help of his cronies and pocketing the proceeds.
Two of his co-conspirators, Joseph Ross and Herbert Friedman, have already been sentenced. David Cohen, who preceded Rapfogel as the charity’s CEO, is expected to be sentenced Aug. 14.