Jacobi Stateside, But Not In Jail

Notorious landlord Sharok Jacobi is back in the United States, but not in jail.
A bench warrant was issued for his arrest this past December while he was in Israel, but Jacobi’s attorneys appealed and now, with a recent stay of his sentencing, he has returned to this country. Jacobi, the property owner of an illegal multi-family house at 127 Steamboat Rd. in the Village of Great Neck, had been sentenced this past Novenber to 45 days in jail and ordered to pay $17,050 in fines for renting this house. He had been convicted of 17 potentially life-threatening violations of health, fire and safety codes. However, on several occasions when Jacobi was due to appear in Village of Great Neck court, he failed to appear, sending his attorneys instead.
Dec. 18, 2013 was the last time Jacobi failed to show in court before Acting Village Judge Jon Mostel. His lawyers indicated that they had filed an appeal and that at that time they believed that Jacobi was still out of the country. Mostel then issued the bench warrant for Jacobi’s arrest.
The bench warrant was to preclude Jacobi from freely re-entering the United States. With a bench warrant, if he attempted to re-enter the U.S., he would be arrested at the airport.
Since the stay of sentencing, Jacobi’s case was heard by the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Term, Second Department. At that time part of Jacobi’s stay of sentencing included his agreement to surrender his passport to the court and to testify that this was his sole passport.
Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman told the Great Neck Record that the village has hired special counsel (specializing in criminal law) to fight the appeal. Village Justice Mark Birnbaum acknowledged the issue but told the Record that, because this is a pending legal action, he could not further comment on the case.
Acting Village Justice Jon Mostel, who has presided over this case in Village Court, also could not offer any comments.