Jacob Ostreicher Explained

Jacob Ostreicher
Birth Date:7 February 1959
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York
Occupation:Businessman, investor
Parents:David Ostreicher
Violet Ostreicher

Jacob Ostreicher (born February 7, 1959) is an American businessman and investor. In June 2011, he was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, while overseeing a rice growing agricultural venture that he had invested in, and was jailed for 18 months on suspicion of money laundering, though he was never formally charged. Ostreicher maintained his innocence and stated that the allegations by the Bolivian government were "the scam of the century".[1] [2] His family and friends initiated a public effort to plea for his release, and actor-activist Sean Penn visited Ostreicher in Bolivia and pledged to work for his release.

On December 18, 2012, Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and placed under house arrest. Bolivian officials were later arrested for what authorities state was an extortion ring.[3] On December 16, 2013, Ostreicher arrived in the United States after 30 months in Bolivia. It was unclear how he managed to flee the country.

Background

Personal life

Ostreicher was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1959 to David and Violet Ostreicher, both Orthodox Jews. He has 2 children and 7 grandchildren.

Bolivian investment and arrest

A group of investors, including Ostreicher and Geneva lawyer Andre Zolty, invested at least $25 million in a rice farming project in Bolivia in 2008. Zolty stated that the idea originally came from Claudia Liliana Rodriguez who he had worked with in Geneva. The investors became concerned with irregularities and suspected that Rodriguez was cheating them. Ostreicher was dispatched to Bolivia to handle the situation, and pursued criminal charges against Rodriguez. The investors also state that Rodriguez became involved in a romantic and financial relationship with a drug trafficker by the name of Maximiliano Dorado.[4]

Dorado was arrested in 2010, and was imprisoned in Brazil.

On June 4, 2011, after an initial investigation, Ostreicher was arrested for suspicion of money laundering and criminal organization.[5] The prosecutors also claimed that one of the investors, Andre Zolty, was under investigation in Switzerland, however, the Swiss authorities have denied this.[6] Rodriguez has also been arrested. Ostreicher was imprisoned at Palmasola prison.[7]

Ostreicher was brought before a judge who after several hearings ordered for him to be released on September 23, 2011.[8] However the judge reversed his decision a week later. A month later the judge was promoted and a new judge was assigned to the case. Following several postponements, the second judge recused himself from the case; no other judge had yet to be assigned.[9]

A marriage certificate showing Ostreicher was married in Bolivia was entered into evidence during the September 23 hearing. Ostreicher denied that he was married to a Bolivian.[5]

Ostreicher was visited by actor Sean Penn on October 31, 2012.[10] [11]

Bolivian law allows for imprisonment without charge for 18 months during the investigative phase.[12] Since Ostreicher was arrested in early June 2011, the 18-month mark occurred in early December 2012.

Ostreicher appeared in a hearing on Tuesday, December 11, and the judge ordered that the case be sent back to the lower court. Actor Penn was present at the hearing.[13] On December 18, Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and was placed under house arrest.[14]

Government extortion ring

Fifteen people, including prosecutors, government officials, and the judge who originally had Ostreicher imprisoned, were arrested in what authorities say was an extortion ring.[15] [16] [17] They include:

Public campaigns

Rally

A rally was held for Ostreicher in front of the Bolivian Mission in New York City on May 3, 2012.[18] The rally was arranged by Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind.

White House petition

On May 3, 2012, supporters of Ostreicher initiated an online petition on the White House We the People website requesting the Obama Administration to assist in the effort to free Jacob. As of December 2, 2019, 35,958 people signed the petition. A total of 25,000 signatures were needed by June 2, 2012, in order to submit the petition to the White House; this requirement was met.

Congressional hearings

Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ)[19] held a hearing in the Congress on June 6, 2012, to investigate the role that the United States Department of State has played in helping free Jacob from Bolivia.[20]

Hearings were also held on August 1, 2012, and May 20, 2013.[21] [22] [23]

Return to United States

On December 16, 2013, Ostreicher arrived in the US after 30 months in Bolivia.[24] [25] [26] He was reported to be in an undisclosed location with Sean Penn and receiving medical attention.[27] It was unclear how he had fled the country.[28] In May 2014 Ostreicher revealed that after his release, Penn had personally nursed him back to mental and physical health at the latter's home.[29]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Moran. Terry. American Sits Almost a Year With No Charges in Isolated Bolivian Prison. 11 May 2012. ABC News - Nightline. 11 May 2012.
  2. News: Lipman. Jennifer. Rally to support Orthodox man jailed in Bolivia. 3 May 2012. THE JEWISH CHRONICLE ONLINE. May 3, 2012.
  3. Web site: Bolivian Officials Arrested in Plot To Extort New York Businessman . 27 November 2012 . The New York Times . 14 February 2013 . Associated Press.
  4. Web site: For Brooklyn Entrepreneur, Bolivian Jail and an Actor's Aid . Joseph Berger . . 1 January 2013 . 14 February 2013.
  5. News: Empresario agrícola recupera su libertad. El Día. September 24, 2011.
  6. News: Bajak . Frank . Flores . Paola . US man sits 10 months in Bolivian jail, uncharged. https://web.archive.org/web/20120606202710/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-04/D9TUS2DO0.htm. dead. June 6, 2012. 2 May 2012. Associated Press.
  7. News: Egea. Manuel. Latin American prisons are 'territories of the underworld'. 2 May 2012. Infosurhoy.com. 2009-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20120519180645/http://infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/features/saii/features/society/2009/12/17/feature-02. 19 May 2012. dead. dmy-all.
  8. News: Valdez . Carlos . US businessman gets out of Bolivian jail. 2011-09-26.
  9. News: US Orthodox Jew sits 10 months in Palmasola, a Bolivian jail, uncharged. The Times of Israel.
  10. News: Sean Penn visitó a su compatriota preso en cárcel de Santa Cruz . . 7 November 2012 . 19 November 2012.
  11. News: Penn gets multiple requests in Bolivia . 31 October 2012 . Associated Press . 19 November 2012.
  12. Web site: 2010 Human Rights Report: Bolivia. U.S. Department of State. the law establishes that a case's investigatory phase cannot exceed a maximum of 18 months.
  13. News: Bolivian appeals court does not release N.Y. Jewish businessman . . 12 December 2012 . 13 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121218110926/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/12/12/3114331/bolivian-appeals-court-does-not-release-haredi-orthodox-ny-businessman . 18 December 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
  14. News: Jacob Ostreicher released from Bolivian prison . . 20 December 2012 . 20 December 2012.
  15. News: 7 Bolivian Officials Arrested, Accused of Extorting Jailed American Man . Lauren Effron . Alex Waterfield . ABC News . 28 November 2012 . 13 December 2012.
  16. News: Extortion of American Stings Bolivian Officials . Carlos Valdez . Frank Bajak . AP . 10 December 2012 . 13 December 2012 . 11 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130311151929/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/extortion-american-stings-bolivian-officials . dead .
  17. Web site: Sean Penn says he's with businessman wanted in Bolivia. . 17 December 2013. 20 December 2013. Associated Press.
  18. News: Schmidt. Linda. Fox 5 NY with Linda Schmidt at the Free Jacob Ostreicher Rally featuring Dov Hikind. 4 May 2012. Fox 5 NY. May 3, 2012.
  19. Web site: US Congressman Chris Smith to hold hearing on Jacob Ostreicher. Youtube. tlseditor. 8 June 2012.
  20. News: Rep. Smith Holds Hearing on Case of American Jacob Ostreicher: "The U.S. State Department's Inadequate Response to Human Rights Concerns in Bolivia". 8 June 2012. America's Forum. June 6, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002840/http://www.americas-forum.com/rep-smith-holds-hearing-on-case-of-american-jacob-ostreicher-the-u-s-state-departments-inadequate-response-to-human-rights-concerns-in-bolivia/. 3 December 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress: Seeking Freedom for American Trapped in Bolivian Prison . 1 August 2012 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 19 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121212032855/http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/112/75388.pdf . 12 December 2012 . dead . dmy-all .
  22. Web site: American Businessman Trapped in Bolivia Topic of House Hearing . 1 August 2012 . Office of Congressman Chris Smith . 19 November 2012.
  23. Web site: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress: Advocating for American Jacob Ostreicher's Freedom after Two Years in Bolivian Detention . 20 May 2013 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 29 November 2013.
  24. News: Jacob Ostreicher Free . 16 December 2013 . FailedMessiah.com . 16 December 2013 . FailedMessiah.com.
  25. Web site: Jacob Ostreicher In US After Being Kidnapped from Bolivia . 16 December 2013 . The Lakewood Scoop . 16 December 2013 . TLS.
  26. Web site: Jacob Ostreicher Has Been Released From Bolivia and is Back in The United States . 16 December 2013 . Yeshiva World News . 16 December 2013.
  27. Web site: Ostreicher's flight proves his guilt, Bolivian president says. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 24 December 2013. 25 December 2013.
  28. Web site: Conflicting Tales on How a Brooklyn Businessman Evaded Bolivian Custody. Joseph. Berger. William. Neuman. 17 December 2013. 20 December 2013. The New York Times.
  29. Web site: Orthodox Jewish Captive Jacob Ostreicher Reveals How Sean Penn Nursed Him Back to Health in His Own Home . 21 May 2014 . The Algemeiner . 23 May 2014.

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