A former head of the Boro Park Shomrim Society has been given a sentence of up to 17-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for the transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The defendant, Jacob Daskal pleaded guilty and agreed to a sentence within the range of approximately 14 to 17-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. As part of the plea, Daskal is required to register as a sex offender.
“The defendant has admitted he abused his power, trust and position in the community by committing deplorable acts against a child in his care,” said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “We want victims everywhere to hear this guilty plea as our Office’s continued declaration that no one is above the law and we will bring those who violate our children to justice.”
The defendant was the head of the Boro Park Shomrim Society, a private crime-patrol group associated with the New York Police Department. In the spring of 2017, as a result of his position with the organization, the defendant was connected to a 15-year-old girl. Daskal then took the minor into his home and groomed her for sexual abuse. Between August and November 2017, the defendant, who was then 58 years old, subjected the 15-year-old victim to sexual acts.
The defendant used his position as a leader in their community to quiet the victim, bragging about his connections to law enforcement and warning her that it would ruin her life if she told anyone about their relationship.
During the summer of 2017, the sexual conduct occurred primarily at Daskal’s house in Brooklyn, New York and at his summer house in South Fallsburg, New York. The defendant frequently transported the victim between those locations by way of New Jersey. At the end of August, the defendant, his family and the victim returned full-time to his house in Brooklyn, where the abuse continued.
As the school year started, the defendant helped the victim find a new school in Chicago, Illinois, and, in October 2017, she moved there to attend that school and live with another family. While the victim was in Chicago, the defendant communicated with the victim via text message and over Skype video chat. Throughout the abuse, the defendant instructed the victim to delete their communications.
On or about November 5, 2017, the defendant traveled to Chicago for a day trip to visit the victim. The defendant booked a hotel room in Chicago, and he brought the victim to the hotel for sexual intercourse and oral sex. He flew back to New York that evening.
