Scam Artist Throws A Bar Mitzvah Behind Bars

Information has just been released regarding a very unusual celebration. On December 30th a Bar Mitzvah was held at the lower Manhattan lockdown known as "The Tombs." Festive, no?

In 1989 Tuvia Stern, was accused along with his brother Ephraim of stealing $1.7 million through two scams including a bogus deal to lease back office equipment and a check-kiting scheme targeting Morgan Guaranty Trust. While out on $250,000 bail, Tuvia Stern fled to Brazil with his wife and five children.
Stern was detained in 2006 while trying to enter England and was returned to the United States last year.Stern, 47, pleaded guilty earlier this year to bail jumping and to grand larceny from the 1989 indictment; he was sent to Woodbourne state prison in the Hudson Valley in April. There was only one problem- his son hadn't had his Bar Mitzvah yet!

What's a scam artist to do? The answer seemed clear to Stern: use taxpayers' money so that the state employees can help throw a Bar Mitzvah and reception in the prison gym.

The bar mitzvah took place Dec. 30 in the gym at The Tombs. About 60 guests attended, and Stern was allowed to use his own kosher caterer. Stern also was permitted to swap his jail garb for more festive clothing, and guests kept their cell phones, which normally are not allowed in city jails. A popular Orthodox singer, Yaakov Shwekey, performed.

The party was so successful that Stern held a small engagement party for his daughter at the same venue four months later.

Oy Vey.

Rabbi Leib Glanz, the chaplain who arranged the bar mitzvah, was suspended for two weeks, and four other staff members lost two weeks of vacation each. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was fuming Thursday after learning of this nonsense and said the Bar Mitzvah, " should not have happened. "

George Bluth would be proud.

(Via Associated Press)