FBI Raids Locations in Kiryas Joel

News 12
May 12, 2016

http://hudsonvalley.news12.com/news/fbi-raids-locations-in-kiryas-joel-1.11791455

The village of Kiryas Joel was crawling with FBI agents Thursday.

They raided multiple locations and removed boxes and bags of evidence.

One location they were spotted at was a Forest Road building believed to house offices associated with the United Talmudical Academy, which itself is at the center of sex abuse allegations against an administrator. Agents also raided the school's main building, where around 8,000 students attend class.

The school's principal is under investigation for alleged sexual abuse involving multiple students. Activists allege that two separate videos show the principal kissing a boy while holding him between his legs. State police have confirmed they have opened an investigation into those incidents.

The United Talmudical Academy is also under investigation for the federal E-Rate program, which pays for computer connectivity in nonpublic schools. As News12 previously reported, the yeshiva received millions of dollars under the program.

United Talmudical Academy officials described the raids as "an extreme case of intimidation."

The raids came two days after United Talmudical Academy released a statement defending and supporting the principal’s behavior.

Authorities have also confirmed that they raided the Kiryas Joel Public Safety headquarters.