SAN DIEGO _ Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who one year ago had part of his hand shot off in a lethal attack by a gunman at the San Diego-area synagogue he founded and received an outpouring of support that included meeting President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax fraud and wire fraud Tuesday.
Goldstein, 58, pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme where donors made large contributions to Chabad of Poway, but then secretly got most of the money back. Typically, according to several sources with knowledge of the investigation, the synagogue would keep a portion of the contribution _ say, 10% _ then funnel the remaining 90% back to the donor.
The donor could then claim a large charitable contribution on their taxes, though they had only put out a fraction of the claimed amount.
Neither Goldstein nor his attorneys made any comments to a reporter after the hearing in U.S. District Court. At least five other people are expected to plead guilty Tuesday in connection with the case.
The investigation into Chabad of Poway has been going on for more than 18 months. Sources have said that it included serving a search warrant on the synagogue on Oct. 17, 2018 _ almost six months before the congregation was thrust into the national spotlight when a gunman burst into a Passover service and opened fire.
Law enforcement and courthouse sources said that among the items investigators were seeking in that search was $1 million in cash and a collection of gold bars.
One congregant, Lori Gilbert-Kaye, was killed and three others were injured. Among them was Goldstein, who lost his right index finger when hit by one of the rounds fired by the gunman.
John Earnest, 20, has been charged in the attack both in state and federal court.
In the weeks and months that followed, Goldstein was celebrated in the news and in person, meeting Trump days after the shooting in the Rose Garden at the White House at the National Day of Prayer.
He spoke at the United Nations, at gatherings in Brazil and Poland, and locally as the keynote speaker at a forum on the rise of hate at University of San Diego. He delivered a message of hope and optimism and became a global symbol against anti-Semitism and hate.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife also made an unscheduled stop at the synagogue when he visited in July, and was photographed in the synagogue with his wife, Karen, and the rabbi.
When Trump visited San Diego in September, Goldstein was one of a handful of people who got the prestigious positions of greeting the president as he stepped off Air Force One on the tarmac.
All the while Goldstein was under the scrutiny of federal investigators. In November, citing exhaustion, Goldstein retired from the leadership of Chabad of Poway. One of his sons now leads the congregation.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has decided to seek the death penalty against Earnest, a former student at California State University San Marcos. Federal prosecutors have also charged Earnest with hate crimes and obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs charges, which also make him eligible for the death penalty in federal court. The Department of Justice has not made a decision about what penalty to seek if Earnest is convicted.
