Head of NY Jewish poverty group arrested in financial scam

William Rapfogel, the ousted leader of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty in New York, was arrested on charges of grand larceny and money laundering.

Rapfogel was taken into custody Tuesday and was expected to be arraigned the same day in Manhattan Criminal Court, The Wall Street Journal reported.

He was fired in August after financial irregularities were discovered in an investigation initiated by the Met Council’s board of directors. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the state comptroller’s office then opened a probe.

Rapfogel had served as CEO and president of the Met Council from 1992.

“I deeply regret the mistakes I have made that led to my departure from the organization,” he said following his ouster by the social service agency.

Rapfogel allegedly inflated the Met Council’s health insurance payments by several hundred thousand dollars a year and then split the proceeds with politicians who supplied grants to the agency.

Rapfogel hosts an annual breakfast that draws many influential political figures. His wife, Judy, is chief of staff for state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

The Met Council provides employment services, crisis intervention, emergency food and other programs for poor Jewish households.