WHITE PLAINS – Six Rockland County residents and one from Orange County have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with the federal “E-rate” program, which provides subsidies for affordable telecommunications equipment and related services to qualified schools.
Authorities allege they stole millions from the program, billing it for equipment and services that were not provided.
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the seven “concocted a scheme that not only defrauded taxpayers, but also deprived local students of access to affordable technology equipment and Internet service.”
Charged in the case are:
Simon Goldbrener, 55, of Monsey
Peretz Klein, 64, of Spring Valley
Susan Klein, 57, of Spring Valley
Ben Klein, 39, of Monsey
Moshe Schwartz, 45, of Monroe
Sholem Steinberg, 39, of Monsey
Aron Melber, 42, of Monsey
