Jew-of-the-Week Award Goes to Charles Kushner

This week's Jew of the Week award goes to real estate tycoon and convicted felon Charles Kusher of New Jersey. Amy Klein reports in the Bergen Record that he has bargained down his two year sentence agreement for tax fraud by taking 500 hours of treatment for an imaginary drug problem.

He will now be going from Alabama Federal prison to a halfway house in Newark where, we presume, he will resume running his business empire. And... instead of serving in prison until December or January as originally agreed, Charles effectively is out.

Update: The AP reports 4/2 via the Bergen Record that Mr K already arrived in Newark by Limousine and will be going home for Shabbos:

NEWARK -- Real estate magnate Charles Kushner, who was convicted of campaign violations, tax violations and retaliating against a witness -- his sister -- has been transferred to a Newark halfway house and may begin working soon.

Kushner arrived Friday at the Newark halfway house where he will spend five months, pulling up in a blue Cadillac De-Ville, The Star-Ledger reported Saturday.

The millionaire developer started serving a two-year prison sentence less than a year ago, after being convicted of making illegal campaign contributions, cheating on his taxes and trying to retaliate against his sister after she helped authorities make their case against him.

By completing a 500-hour drug and alcohol treatment program while he was at the Federal Prison Camp in Alabama, Kushner was able to cut at least four months from his prison term and qualified for a transfer to the halfway house.

Prosecutors were outraged at the early release and tried to keep Kushner at the Alabama prison while they investigated whether he or others had lied to get him into the treatment program.

While at the halfway house, Kushner must work, and he is expected back at his Florham Park real estate management company as early as next week.

As long as Kushner goes to work and meets other requirements, he is allowed to request furloughs to spend weekends at home. If he exhibits good behavior, he could be fully freed from federal custody by August.

Well done Charles! You truly deserve the prestigious tzvee.blog Jew-of-the-Week Award.