Israeli sentenced in extortion scheme
A reputed Israeli crime associate who pleaded guilty in a Las Vegas extortion scheme was sentenced Thursday to 46 months in prison.
Yakov Cohen, 24, an Israeli citizen who lives in Las Vegas, was given 17 months credit for the time he spent in custody since his arrest last year.
Cohen told Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt that he regrets his actions.
“I would never make that decision again,” he said.
His lawyer, David Chesnoff, said he expects Cohen will be deported to Israel after he completes his prison term.
Cohen and four other s were charged in a six-count indictment last year with attempting to extort thousands of dollars from two Israeli-born businessmen, Moshe “Moshiko” Ozana and Moshe “Chiko” Karmi, who run small electronics and cosmetics kiosks at local outlet malls.
Cohen pleaded guilty March 25 to two of the charges, extortion and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
Court-approved wiretaps revealed Cohen trying to muscle in on the kiosk operations. He was overheard threatening violence against the local businessman and bragging about his ties to the Israeli mob.
Federal prosecutors have said Moshe Barmuha, who is alleged to be the ringleader of the group, is “known to be affiliated with a very powerful organized crime family” in Israel. His right arm was amputated below the elbow after a pipe bomb he planted in Israel underneath a rival’s car prematurely exploded.
Barmuha, 39, who lives in Southern California and pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count interstate travel in aid of racketeering, is to be sentenced on Sept. 23.
Las Vegas police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents uncovered the extortion scheme, which brought to light the Israeli mob’s stepped-up presence in Nevada.
Israeli mobsters are involved in traditional rackets such as loan-sharking, extortion, money laundering, prostitution and illegal gambling, authorities have said.
Reporter Carri Geer Thevenot contributed to this story. Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.
