Post by Scumhunter on Nov 12, 2015 18:32:32 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: unsolved.com)
Fugitive Profile as of November 12th, 2015: (based on Unsolved Mysteries website)
Gender: Male
DOB: 4/12/39
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown, gray
TIPS: Anyone with information on this case should contact the Unsolved Mysteries website: unsolved.com/content/tips
Alleged con man Joseph Prushinowski was aired the October 20th, 1993 episode of Unsolved Mysteries. There is a confusing update in this case but he is apparently still wanted which I will explain further down. Below is the Unsolved Wiki description of the case:
"Montreal Rabbi Joseph Prushinowski is wanted for several cases of international bank fraud totalling seven million dollars. Allen Finegold was an assistant who unknowingly helped Prushinowski with many of his schemes while Prushinowski was living near Montréal, Canada. Finegold was described as a young, naive man that worked for Prushinowski until 1987 when he learned the truth and was cleared of any involvement. When the police began investigating, Prushinowski fled with his wife and children to the United States, was involved in several additional scams, then fled to Europe. He scammed a total of $190 million out of several people throughout the world. Surprisingly, police believe that he is giving the money to Jewish charities and churches. He was last known to be scamming under the name of Joseph Weiss in 1992."
OK, and here's the update according to the official Unsolved Mysteries website: "After more than ten years on the run, Joseph Prushinowski was arrested in Israel. He was convicted of seven fraud charges in a Jerusalem court and sentenced to seven years in prison. Here in the United States, Prushinowski is still wanted by the FBI on multiple counts of bank fraud."
Thoughts? As someone who was raised in a multi-faith household and considers himself Jewish, I want to say this guy does not represent all Jewish people. Which makes me all the more annoyed at that Unsolved Mysteries comment where the person complains about Israel not extraditing Prushinowski and "it's time for the world to cut off support of Israel and the Jews." First of all- A) As frustrating as it is Israel apparently won't extradite him if he's there- they are not the only country that you'd think wouldn't give the U.S. problems give the U.S. problems (see the UK and their support of alleged child molesters). and B) I realize text can be interpreted differently from spoken word but it's the way the commenter said "Jews" that irked me. It's one thing when I say it as technical slang about my people, but it's another when a person who's not of the Jewish faith says it to complain. Also, he capitalized WORLD. Anyway, I'm rambling but just saying that commenter was an antisemite.
But anyway, I do agree this guy is a sleazeball. I don't need to say allegedly because at the very least he was convicted of fraud in Jerusalem, although his U.S. charges are still pending, but still he's a proven sleazeball at least in Israel. However, unfortunately, I'm not sure the odds of him ever being sent back here, especially considering he'd be around 76 years old as of this posting.
unsolved.com/archives/joseph-prushinowski
unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Joseph_Prushinowski (UPDATE: As of 7/23/3018, Unsoolved Mysteries says unfprtinately the statute of limitations has run out in regards to the Canadian charges against Prushinowski, however, there are still outstanding warrants for him in the United States)
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