Photo: Baking shmurah matzah in Jerusalem for the Jewish holiday of Passover, April 11, 2022. Photo courtesy of Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90.
(JNS)
A Brooklyn, N.Y. man, Muntaquim Durant, 44, was sentenced on Monday, Dec, 19, to between two-and-a-half and five years in prison for stealing more than $94,000 from a Williamsburg matzah factory on Feb. 28, several weeks before Passover.
“This defendant brazenly broke into a religious institution that was gearing up to make matzahs before the start of a Jewish holiday,” stated Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “He was caught red-handed and will now be held responsible.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Durant entered a Satmar Chasidic matzah factory located at 423 Broadway in Williamsburg at about 9:50 a.m. on Feb. 28.
“Surveillance video captured him enter the building, rummage through jackets on a coat rack, go upstairs, pour himself a cup of coffee and enter the location’s office on the second floor,” per the DA’s office.
“The office was locked, but the defendant forced his way in and then exited the office a few seconds later with what appeared to be a wad of cash and checks in his pockets. He then exited the location,” it stated.
He stole more than $60,000 in cash and $34,000-plus in checks.
