Lakewood Community Rocked By Non-Jewish Man Posing As Jew!-

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Lakewood man behind bars on identity fraud charges
LAKEWOOD — The man Orthodox Jews here knew as Nathan Levi was a rising star among them, having in three short years gone from a religious layman to a Torah scholar capable of mentoring others, those close to him said.

The same man is now in a Kansas prison awaiting trial on federal identity fraud charges under the name "John A. Doe," according to court papers that list his real name as Ted Riley Floyd.

As news of Levi's sudden departure spread, feelings of betrayal consumed this intensely close-knit Orthodox enclave, with many raising doubts about the purported Jewish roots of the newcomer they had embraced as one of their own.

"We gave him the confidence and all the support he needed to feel comfortable and honored here. To find out he's pulling a scam on the community is heartbreaking," said Rabbi Ike Lewis of the Congregation of Etz Haim, where he had tutored Levi for three years. Lewis would only give his secular name out of concern for his safety.

Levi was arrested at his home on Forest Park Circle Feb. 21 by U.S. Department of State agents on a 2002 warrant for submitting a fraudulent passport application in Wichita, Kan., according to authorities. That day, a New Jersey magistrate judge released him on $100,000 bail on the condition that he receive mental health counseling and return to Kansas to face the charges, court papers stated.

On March 24, a U.S. District Court judge in Kansas jailed Levi after determining he was lying about his identity, according to the detention order. At that hearing, Levi said his real name was Ted Riley Floyd. The court "it appears that Defendant is not Nathaniel James Levi, and that Nathaniel James Levi is in fact deceased."

"We essentially told the judge we can't trust he'll show up every time in court, because we just don't know who this guy is," Jim Cross, of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas, said.

Levi's next court hearing is May 12, with trial set to begin May 20, Cross said.

It remains unclear how truthful Levi was about his Jewish background or what ties he has in Wichita other than having in-laws there.
No rush to judgment

Some Orthodox leaders refrained from quick judgment.

"How can I say he betrayed us? Do we know these allegations are true?" Joseph Atles, a member of Lakewood's council of Jewish leaders, the Vaad, said Thursday. "I could not say that with a straight face. I hope he didn't take advantage of us."

Levi at some point contacted Partners in Torah, a Lakewood-based nonprofit group that helps people discover their Jewish heritage by matching them up with a volunteer mentor, Shalom Rosenberg, the group's national follow-up coordinator, said.

"We had no reason to believe he was being dishonest about anything," said Rosenberg, who would not elaborate on when or for how long Levi was involved with the organization, or what was unearthed.

Lewis said Levi was matched with a Partners in Torah mentor about three years ago and brought to Lakewood from Kansas for a visit. Having liked what he saw, the self-employed graphic designer decided to move his family here.

Several neighbors in the Forest Park section told of helping him and his wife, Jamie, with everything from stocking up groceries for the Sabbath to finding private Orthodox schools for their three or four young children.

"Have done so much for him, how should people feel now?" asked one Orthodox woman who, like the other residents interviewed, asked that her name be withheld due to concerns of exposure. "They're really hurt. It's like a slap in the face."

Once settled, Levi tackled his role as a rabbinical student with vigor, spending long hours at the yeshiva university, Beth Medrash Govoha, and taking classes at Etz Haim, which was within walking distance of his home.

Lewis described Levi as a "very powerful" intellectual and a "multi-talented" tradesman who could switch effortlessly from religious scribe to construction worker to graphic artist.

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[rebyidvid]

THEY SAY HE WAS AN ARAB!!!!!!!!

[Orangecounty72]

Jews are not evil people are evil gentiles jews not a whole group the jews have out lasted many superpowers

[QzOOm2007]

fuck israel

[MRDOCENSTOCK2]

JEWS ARE EVIL ....U WILL SEE WHO S GOT THE TRUE ....USA IS LIKE GERMANY IN THE 30' ....america is blind !!!

[kobie8819591]

They knew he was not a jew because he did not fuck over anyone for money.

[TheAmazingamerica]

LOL



[nezaromar]

Zionist jew are killing palestinian kids without any mercy. Free Palestine from Jew

[GarbageState]

haha he pulled a good one on yids. but why???!!! why the mentally ill, inferior, disgusting, filthy, blood-sucking parasitic yids??? why??? unless he committed a horrible crime, and false identity is not crime, then i can understand. they all looks the same in those disgusting outfits, he could get lost among them...

[dnanban]

not the same person unless he had nose job