A rabbi and a NJ mayor walk into a bar...

The rabbi says, "Hey! Can you help me traffic some black market organs in for a friend of mine? You know, he needs a kidney or seven."

The New Jersey mayor says, "Black market organs, what are you - crazy? What's in it for me?"

The rabbi replies, "$160,000 in cash laundered through my religious charity organizations. I'll throw in a fake Gucci handbag from the Holy Land for the old lady, too."

The mayor says, "Sounds pretty good, but how about you throw in a few more bags, you know, for the family."

Rabbi replies, "What! Does it look like I'm made of money!? Oi Vey!"

(Check out the guy in the top hat!)












Suspects arrested in a sweeping corruption investigation are walked to a waiting bus outside FBI offices Thursday, July 23, 2009, in Newark, N.J.
3:56 p.m. ET, 7/23/09 (source: MSNBC)

So, the story goes something like this. FBI infiltrates corruption circle involving Mayors and Legislators from New York and New Jersey, various industry people, and rabbis. An estimated $650,000 was traded in bribes, as well as millions of dollars laundered through various organizations, including some set up and run by accused rabbis.

A quote from MSNBC:
"Those arrested included Levy Izhak Rosenbaum of Brooklyn, who was charged with conspiring to arrange the sale of an Israeli citizen's kidney for $160,000 for a transplant for the informant's fictitious uncle. Rosenbaum was quoted as saying he had been arranging the sale of kidneys for 10 years."

He's been "arranging the sale of kidneys for 10 years." 10 FRAKKING YEARS, people! Kidneys from ISRAEL! I wonder who is running the headline "Rabbi sells Israeli kidneys". Although, I guess it would be even more scandalous if he was selling kidneys from Pakistan.

To make the story even more ridiculous, not only were these guys profiting off of money laundering and human organ trafficking, but also from the sale of counterfeit designer handbags. Really, guys? What, is the organ trafficking really not profitable enough that you have to supplement your illegal income by selling fake Gucci purses? And I'd like to know just where they are selling these handbags! Out of the trunks of their cars? Do they have a little stand 'round the back of their office that they can close up when the heat comes? My mom once bought a bag from one of those places in New York, but she wanted a Prada instead of Gucci, so the nice little lady changed out the little logo for us right there on the street. I wonder if these guys would do that?


















An unidentified man is walked to a waiting bus after being taken into custody Thursday, July 23, 2009, in Newark, N.J., outside FBI offices.
11:01 a.m. ET, 7/23/09 (source: MSNBC)

The hook, line, and sinker here? All but one of the politicians (and all the rabbis, obviously) are Democrats. DOH!

Here are some links to the story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32103250/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/page/1/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/23/new.jersey.arrests/index.html?iref=newssearch