51-year-old New Yorker Eliyahu (Eli) Weinstein, released from prison in 2021 after being pardoned by President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 37 years in prison for new fraud. According to the indictment, Weinstein, who belongs to the Orthodox Jewish community, used the fictitious name “Mike Koenig” to hide his identity and attracted money from investors, saying he would invest it in coronavirus masks, baby formula and emergency equipment for Ukraine. In fact, the money was used for gambling, purchasing real estate and luxury watches. A New Jersey federal court found that Weinstein defrauded more than 150 investors out of $41 million and ordered him to pay $44 million in damages.
