The New Jersey U.S. Attorney's Office announced that David Hellman, a 31-year old personal trainer, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to traveling in interstate commerce to commit extortion in an attempt to coerce a Jewish man in New York to give his wife a "get"-- a Jewish divorce document. Hellman was part of a group of men-- including two rabbis-- who allegedly charged women tens of thousands of dollars to use violence against their recalcitrant husbands who refused to grant a Jewish divorce after a civil divorce had been obtained. They were arrested in an FBI sting operation. (See prior posting.) Hellman was the first of the group charged to plead guilty. His bail conditions include a $500,000 bond and GPS monitoring. He faces a possible sentence of as much as 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Newark Star-Ledger reports on the case.
UPDATE: The March 11 Asbury Park Press reports that two additional defendants involved have pleaded guilty to charges of traveling in interstate commerce to commit extortion.
