Man Who Tried to Bribe Sex Assault Victim with $500,000 to Keep Her from Testifying Sentenced to Four-Months in Jail
By Oren Yaniv
Abraham Rubin, 50, previously admitted he offered $500,000 to the husband of a sexual assault victim to keep her from testifying against Nechemya Weberman. The woman testified against Weberman, who was convicted and is now serving 50 years in jail.A Brooklyn man who tried to bribe a witness in a high-profile sex abuse case was sent to four months in prison Friday despite impassioned pleas for a no-jail sentence.Abraham Rubin, 50, had admitted he offered $500,000 to the husband of Nechemya Weberman's victim to make the case go away — a plot that failed when his offer was rejected. The hubby, Boorey Deutsch, “and his wife went through tremendous hardship because of the defendant's actions,” said prosecutor Patricia McNeill. Even though no money changed hands, the District Attorney's office has consistently asked for six months in jail plus five-year probation - two months more than what the judge meted out. RELATED: VICTIM OF NECHEMYA WEBERMAN FILES CIVIL SUIT The tearful defendant was then taken in cuffs to start serving his sentence that will be followed by probation. “This is a message to the Jewish community around the world - whoever will try to silence a victim of any kind of abuse will face justice,” Deutsch told the News. “We will stand strong and make sure our voices are heard!” Rubin's bribe attempt in 2010 was part of wide-reaching campaign to ostracize and intimidate the teen victim. The victim testified just over a year ago about Weberman's disturbing abuse. The unlicensed Hasidic counselor was found guilty and is now serving a 50-year sentence. Former Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes had come under fire for leniency when dealing with victim intimidation, then criticized in ultra-Orthodox circles for calling Hasidic intimidators worse than the mafia. Rubin's case is a holdover from his tenure. RELATED: MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OFFERING $500K BRIBE TO SILENCE WEBERMAN SEX ABUSE VICTIM The courtroom was filled Friday with over 30 relatives and supporters of Rubin, many holding prayer books and sobbing as the confessed briber offered a mea culpa. “I've made a terrible mistake, I feel very sorry and, trust me, I'll never do anything against the law again,” he told Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. “Please be compassionate.” Before he spoke, Rubin's lawyer John Esposito called him “a man who has led an exemplary life,” cited his charitable work at great length and read letters from numerous people he helped. “His goodness, his kindness knows no bounds,” the lawyer added. “I can go on and on with these letters.” “But you won't,” the judge cut him off. Contact: oyaniv@nydailynews.com
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