Abergil Crime Family

Infobox Criminal organization
name =Abergil Crime Family משפחת פשע אברג'יל


caption =
founded on =
founding location =
founded by =
years active =
territory =Mainly Tel Aviv, but also throughout Israel and the United States.
ethnic makeup =Jewish Israeli
membership est =
criminal activities =Racketeering, conspiracy, loansharking, money laundering, murder, drug trafficking, gambling, extortion and car theft.
allies =Vineland Boyz
rivals =Various gangs within Israel, Alperon crime organization, Ze'ev Rosenstein

The Abergil Crime Family (Hebrew: משפחת אברג'יל) is an organized crime organization based in Israel, and located around the world. [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1219572136072&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull From Israel to Los Angeles] By ALLISON HOFFMAN, JPOST CORRESPONDENT IN NEW YORK (Aug 27, 2008 1:22 | Updated Aug 27, 2008 9:31 ), accessed 27 August 2008] The group is run under the auspices of Itzhik Abergil (Hebrew: איציק אברג'יל) and his brother Meir Abergil (Hebrew: מאיר אברג'יל). Its illicit activities include drug trafficking (both in Israel and the US), murder, money laundering, extortion, and other crimes. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3587970,00.html Abergil to be extradited to US for slew of crimes] By Aviad Glickman (Published: 08.26.08, 16:56), accessed 27 August 2008] The Abergils are set to be extradited to the US to face several charges including allegations that they were involved in the murder of an Israeli drug dealer and the smuggling of ecstasy pills.

Operations

Drug trafficking

The Abergils, reputed heads of one of the most notorious crime syndicates in Israel [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015488.html Reputed mob bosses face murder, drugs, money laundering charges in U.S. ] By Jonathan Lis (07:29 27/08/2008 ), accessed 27 August 2008] , are currently in custody to face various drug related charges in Israel and abroad. According to the LA Times, the State Department considers Itzhik Abergil as one of world’s top 40 drug importers to US. US federal prosecutors claim that when the Abergils wished to expand their mob syndicate in the US, they turned for help to an upstart Latino street gang known as the Vineland Boyz. The Boyz' feud with the Mexican Mafia, known as "La Eme," sent the Boyz looking for a new source of drugs, which the Israelis provided. The Abergil organization is alleged to have distributed millions of ecstasy pills and to have laundered millions of dollars obtained from embezzlement at the Trade Bank and the extortion of business people. The Abergils, along with Moshe Malul and Israeli Ozifaare, are also charged with smuggling cocaine and hashish from Europe to the United States. Itzhik Abergil denied these allegations, stating that " [He had] never been to the United States and all of the allegations against [him] are a police provocation [and that] they are trying to falsely accuse [him] ”" . Abergil is currently awaiting trial on the aforementioned charges.

Murders and assassinations

The Abergils have been convicted on a number of murders and assassinations, including an intentional hit [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015167.html Mob boss crony denies singing to Americans ] By Amir Zohar (undated), accessed 27 August 2008] and the unplanned killing of an Israeli social worker. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3574438,00.html Social worker shot dead at Bat Yam promenade] By Avi Cohen (07.28.08, 23:56 ), accessed 27 August 2008] [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1006945.html Police pressure suspect in Bat Yam shooting to incriminate crime boss ] By Jonathan Lis and Roni Singer-Heruti (10:09 30/07/2008), accessed 27 August 2008] The Abergils were brought before a Jerusalem Magistrate's Court judge along with Moshe Malul and Israeli Ozifa (who themselves are also wanted in the U.S. for their alleged role in the killing of an Israeli drug dealer, Sami Atias).

In 2005, two girls were killed in Ramle by shots fired at a hall where Itzhik Abergil was celebrating. Police believe the slain girls were innocent victims of a mistake by the attacker in identifying his true target.

The Abergils were also arrested [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009925.html Police: Evidence links crime boss Abergil to woman's beach murder] By Jonathan Lis (undated), accessed 27 August 2008] and charged with conspiracy to commit murder for a botched assassination attempt which resulted in the murder of Margarita Lautin (Hebrew: מרגריטה לאוטין), a 31 year-old resident of Yehud [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009595.html Reputed mob boss arrested over Bat Yam beach murder ] By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent (05:55 08/08/2008), accessed 27 August 2008] who was killed while dining on the Bat Yam boardwalk with her husband and two young children. The assailants were apparently targeting an associate of the Abergil group, Rami Amira, but also planned to kill two other Abergil associates, Moti Hassin and Simantov Hatayeb, with whom Amira was having dinner. Amira sustained slight injuries in his cheek as a result of the attack. The Abergil associates apparently attempted to run away from the shooters; but by doing so created a clear line of fire on Lautin, who was shot in the chest. The two assassins fled the scene on a motorcycle, but were later apprehended by the police. [http://www.iba.org.il/reka/index.asp?classto=RekaInner&entity_code=451298&lang=English Police claim evidence against 2 suspects in Lautin murder] Reka Kol Israel (undated), accessed 27 August 2008]

Personal safety

Police learned recently that at least two contract killers, believed to be from the Commonwealth of Independent States, had come to Israel at the behest of a rival crime family embroiled in a vendetta with the Abergil crime syndicate. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/910154.html Police warn reputed mobster of hit team sent to kill him] By Uri Blau, Haaretz Correspondent (12:07 07/10/2007), accessed 27 August 2008] Izthik Abergil has accumulated a number of powerful enemies and survived several assassination attempts. He is also believed to have sent out killers to deal with his enemies. In December 2002, one of Abergil's main rivals, underworld kingpin Ze'ev Rosenstein, was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to assassinate both Abergils. The latest vendetta of the Abergil family apparently involved the Alperon crime organization. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/912268.html Police: Alperon family hired foreign hitmen to kill mob boss Abergil] By Roni Singer-Heruti,, Haaretz Correspondent (05:07 12/10/2007), accessed 27 August 2008] Until recently, the two crime families were believed to be allies. But relations have apparently soured in the past year, and violence has erupted between them several times. Their rivalry is believed to be fueled by competition over bottle recycling in central Israel, a business that earns millions of shekels annually and is largely controlled by the underworld.

ee also

*Israeli mafia
*Crime in Israel
*Zeev Rosenstein
*Gonen Segev

References