Levy Itzhak Rosenbaum, 60, of Brooklyn was the first person in the United States ever charged with the trafficking of live human organs
Levy Itzhak Rosenbaum, 60, of Brooklyn (left) is led by his attorneys Ronald Kleinberg (center) and Richard A. Finkel (right) into the Clarkson Fisher Federal Courthouse in Trenton today to plead guilty for his role in trafficking human kidneys. TRENTON — In one of the more bizarre chapters of the sweeping corruption and money laundering sting that came to light in July 2009, a man charged with brokering black market kidneys pleaded guilty in federal court today of trafficking in human organs.
Levy Itzhak Rosenbaum, 60, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who bragged on surveillance recordings that he had participated in many similar transactions over the past decade — acknowledged his role arranging several kidney transplants for fees of up to $160,000. The donors from Israel received $10,000.
He was the first person in the United States ever charged with the trafficking of live human organs.
In proceedings before U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson in Trenton, Rosenbaum admitted he assisted three New Jersey residents in locating donors of kidneys for transplantation, as well as helping a informant in an FBI undercover operation.
Rosenbaum was arrested as part of a massive federal sting operation, orchestrated by using failed Monmouth County real estate investor Solomon Dwek as an undercover informant. Dwek began cooperating with federal prosecutors after he was caught passing a $25 million bogus check at a bank drive-through window in an unrelated Ponzi scheme.
The three-year money laundering and political corruption investigation ultimately led to the arrests of 46 people — including three New Jersey mayors, two state legislators, and more than 20 candidates for public office — who were charged with taking cash bribes from Dwek. Separately, five Orthodox rabbis from Brooklyn and the Jersey shore were also charged with laundering millions of dollars on Dwek’s behalf.
Rosenbaum’s connection to the high-profile sting had been a mystery when the arrests were made. But it was later revealed that Dwek had long known of the kidney broker. Dwek claimed his grandfather had arranged a transplant through Rosenbaum, who was familiar in Brooklyn as the “go-to” guy with connections for those with the means who did not want to wait for a suitable donor organ, or did not qualify to be placed on a transplant list.
According to criminal complaints in the case, Dwek set up Rosenbaum by claiming that a desperately ill uncle of his secretary needed a kidney transplant, and that he was willing to pay for one.
The patient was fictitious and Dwek’s supposed secretary was in reality an FBI undercover agent.
On surveillance recordings released by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Rosenbaum explained the proposed transaction in detail. He told Dwek and the FBI agent that he could bring a willing donor to this country, but the decision to go ahead with the transplant would be with the hospital. “I am what you call a matchmaker . . . I bring a guy what I believe, he’s suitable for your uncle.”
In transcripts of the surveillance recordings, Rosenbaum said he could find them a donor, but the cost would not be cheap — the price tag was set initially at $150,000, and later grew to $160,000.
The scheme was never allowed to proceed beyond an initial deposit paid by Dwek.
The plea today to a four-count information revealed for the first time that Rosenbaum had arranged for at least three other kidney transplants beyond the sting operation, and he agreed to forfeit $420,000 in profits.
Attorneys for Rosenbaum, following the plea, said all of the recipients sought his assistance and he never solicited any of them. They also said the transplant surgeries that did go forward were done in American hospitals, performed by expert kidney transplant surgeons. They added that the transplants were all successful.
Rosenbaum faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 2. He also faces possible deportation as an Israeli citizen.
Related coverage:
• Black-market kidney trafficking charge provides bizarre twist on N.J. corruption probe