PICTURED: Founder of Hasidic neighborhood watch group in Brooklyn is released on $4.5m bail after being indicted for 'raping a 15-year-old girl in two states' in 2017
The founder of an anti-crime patrol group in New York City was released on $4.5million bail on Thursday after being indicted in Brooklyn federal court for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in two states in 2017.
Jacob 'Yanky' Daskal, 62, was charged with rape in state court in 2018 but federal prosecutors stepped in this week to arrest him as part of a new case, according to the New York Post.
Sources told the Post that the state charges could be dropped as the federal case would result in a longer prison sentence if Daskal is convicted
Federal authorities unsealed the three-count indictment Thursday morning against Daskal, who ran the Shomrim’s Brooklyn South Safety Patrol, a Hasidic neighborhood watch group, at the time of the alleged abuse.
According to the court filings, between August and November 2017, Daskal, who was then 59 years old, engaged in a sexual relationship with the teenager whom he took into his home in Brooklyn, where he groomed her for sex.
Shomrim founder, Jacob Daskal, 62, leaves Brooklyn Federal court on Thursday evening after being arraigned on rape charges of a minor and posting bail of $4.5 million
Daskal loses his yarmulkas as it blows off his head in the wind as he is released on bail. The $4.5million bond for the father of eight was signed by members of his family
Daskal is accompanied by two unidentified men as he leaves court Thursday. His is charged with coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct
Daskal is charged with coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
He was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday afternoon where his lawyer, Henry Mazurek, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
'We intend to contest the charges and litigate fully,' Mazurek said.
Daskal, who has eight children and 36 grandchildren, was released on a $4.5 million bond by US Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.
The bond was signed on by eight family members and secured by five properties.
The judge allowed Daskal to continue working as a property manager while he is out on bond.
Prosecutors had argued for his detention as they claimed Daskal 'abused his position of power in the Orthodox Jewish community to groom a vulnerable 15-year-old victim for a sexual relationship'.
'We believe that this defendant, who crossed state lines to allegedly sexually assault a child, should be held fully accountable for his alleged conduct and we therefore worked with the federal authorities to bring charges in federal court, where the potential punishment is more severe,' said Brooklyn DA spokesman Oren Yaniv.
'We will continue to cooperate and do our part to make sure that he’s brought to justice.'
Daskal leaves court after being indicted for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in two states
According to the court filings, between August and November 2017, Daskal (pictured above leaving court on Thursday), who was then 59 years old, engaged in a sexual relationship with the teenager whom he took into his home in Brooklyn, where he groomed her for sex
A lawyer for Daskal (pictured center leaving court) filed a non-guilty plea on his behalf
The judge allowed Daskal to continue working as a property manager while he is out on bond
During the summer of 2017, Daskal allegedly 'engaged in sexual relations with the victim primarily at his residence and at his summer home in South Fallsburg, New York'.
A few months later in October 2017, the victim moved to Chicago to attend a new school and live with another family, authorities said.
'While the victim was in Chicago, Daskal communicated with her via text message and over Skype video chat,' authorities said in a statement.
'He requested that she pose nude for him during their video chats and send him nude photographs as well.'
According to the indictment, Daskal on November 5, 2017, traveled by plane to Chicago to visit the victim and brought her to a hotel room.
While there, he engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex with the victim, prosecutors said.
Daskal is a father of eight with 36 grandchildren. He posted bail on Thursday
During the alleged abuse in 2017, Daskal (pictured center) was the founder and chief of the Borough Park Shomrim Society, a private anti-crime patrol group in South Brooklyn
During the alleged abuse, Daskal was the founder and chief of the Borough Park Shomrim Society, a private anti-crime patrol group.
Over the years he has also donated thousands of dollars to local political campaigns, including those of ex-state Sen. Malcolm Smith and Sen. Simcha Felder, the Post reports.
Authorities said his position in the community 'led the victim to feel threatened when he told her not to tell anyone about their sexual relationship'.
The shomrim has been around since the 1970s and has a close relationship with law enforcement.
In 2018, the victim told her mentor about the alleged abuse and then reported it to the police.
At that time, Daskal was arrested and charged with third-degree rape in Brooklyn Supreme Court for allegedly abusing the girl in his Borough Park home before being let free on $75,000 bond.
Jacob Daskal (left and right during his first arrest in 2018), who is the founder of an anti-crime patrol group in New York City, has been indicted for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in 2017
In 2017, Daskal (pictured during his first arrest in 2018) allegedly 'engaged in sexual relations with the victim primarily at his residence and at his summer home in South Fallsburg, NY'
In 2018, the victim told her mentor about the alleged abuse and then reported it to the police. At that time, Daskal (pictured above center in May 2018 after his arrest on state charges) was arrested and charged with third-degree rape before being free on $75,000 bond
Daskal (pictured in 2018 with his family as they left court) has been charged with coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct
On Thursday, Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Seth D. DuCharme, said in a statement that Daskal 'exploited the vulnerability of a young teenager by grooming her for sex and enticing her into having sexual relations with him'.
'Protecting underage minors from flagrant sexual abuse and predators like the defendant will always be a high priority of this Office and the Department of Justice.' DuCharme said.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F Sweeney said: 'A man who founded an organization aimed at creating a safer community should know the difference between right and wrong. As we allege, Mr. Daskal's position of influence may have helped him attempt to silence his victim, but it won't stop the FBI from holding him accountable.
'Sexually exploiting a teenaged girl is a crime that carries severe consequences, and we hope Mr. Daskal's arrest will demonstrate to other victims that they can come forward,' Sweeney added.
If convicted of the charges, Daskal faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
He only faced one and a half years prison time if convicted on the state charge.
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