Busted For Stealing, Pawning Sacred Items
Detectives collared a Kew Gardens man last week for allegedly stealing an assortment of religious items from synagogues in Forest Hills and Fresh Meadows earlier this summer-and, in some cases, pawning them off for cash, law enforcement sources stated.
Roman Iskhakov, 26, of 125th Street was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last Wednesday, Aug. 29, on charges of third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
At his arraignment hearing, Iskhakov was ordered by Judge Michael Yavinsky held on $50,000 bail and to return to court on Sept. 12. The suspect faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, who referred to the perpetrator as “a one-man crime wave.”
Reportedly, Iskhakov allegedly burglarized the Congregation Ahavath Sholom located at 75-02 113th St. in Forest Hills sometime on the morning of June 18. Among the items stolen in the caper included torah breast plates, a silver pointer, a wine cup and a silver-coated plate.
Nearly two months later, authorities stated, the suspect allegedly broke into the Beth Gavriel Center for Bukharian Jews at 66-35 108th St. on Aug. 14. Security camera footage of the location obtained by police showed a man entering the house of worship and removing several items later determined to be a silver plate and a silver synagogue.
Authorities said the suspect allegedly opened a charity box and removed cash from it, then fled from the scene.
The third and last burglary occurred at around 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 at the Young Israel of Queens Valley Synagogue located at 141-55 77th Ave. in Fresh Meadows. Reportedly, Iskhakov was caught by security cameras entering the house o worship, removing two silver Torah crowns and fleeing from he scene.
As a result of an investigation by the 112th Precinct and 107th Precinct detective squads, Iskhakov was taken into custody last Tuesday, Aug. 28, and later charged with the three incidents following questioning.
In statements made to detectives, authorities noted, Iskhakov claimed that he sold at pawn shops items stolen from the Congregation Ahavath Sholom and Young Israel of Queens Valley Synagogue.
The District Attorney’s Kew Gardens II Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assis- tant District Attorneys Daniel M. Sullivan, bureau chief, and Mark Osnowitz and Jennifer L. Naiburg, deputy bureau chief.
