Lawyers for Reb Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin filed a motion today in U.S. District Court for an acquittal on the 86 counts he was convicted of last week, and is also asking for a new trial on those charges.
The motion contends there was insufficient evidence to sustain the conviction on the bank fraud, money laundering and other charges.
Reasons cited in the brief include:
◦Evidence presented in trial in regards to the non payment of livestock didn’t prove Reb Shalom Mordechai was responsible for the checks issued to cattle suppliers.
◦The government didn’t prove the alleged laundering involved “proceeds” as required for a conviction. Reb Shalom Mordechai didn’t retain any profits; it all went to expenses.
◦Merging the money laundering counts as part of the underlying frauds and false statements to the bank doesn’t meet the legal criteria for merging those counts.
◦The conviction on more than one count of bank fraud violates Reb Shalom Mordechai’s right against double jeopardy for multiple convictions for the same act.
Please continue to daven for Reb Shalom Mordechai ben Rivkah.
The need for financial support is still very strong. Anyone who can help out and can lend support should take a moment to send a donation to the Pidyon Shvuyim Fund. The help of Yidden across the globe is severely needed.
You can easily donate by clicking on one of the following links:
Alternatively, you can mail contributions to:
Pidyon Shvuyim Fund
53 Olympia Lane
Monsey NY 10952
{The Gazette/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
I pray he will be matzliach
Where are the big organizations out there? This week there is a convention. Klall Yisroel is waiting to hear from you already. Shoin tzait.