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Stephane Blais
The Canadian Press
According to a statement from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the seized material is expected to be redistributed to hospitals in the New York and New Jersey area.
Baruch Feldheim, 43, was arrested Monday by FBI special agents and charged with assaulting a federal officer and making false statements to law enforcement.
According to documents filed with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, police seized, during a search, N95 masks, surgical masks, sterilization equipment and disinfection devices, especially.
Still according to documents filed with the prosecutor’s office, “Feldheim also received, on March 25, 2020, a shipment from Canada containing about eight pallets of medical masks.”
According to the FBI, the 42-year-old man was selling the medical equipment in internet forums.
In one case, on March 18, 2020, a New Jersey doctor allegedly contacted Baruch Feldheim via a WhatsApp discussion group titled “Virus2020! “. Feldheim reportedly agreed to sell the doctor about 1,000 N95 masks and other equipment for US $ 12,000, or 700% the value of the regular cost for this equipment.
Also according to documents filed in court, Baruch Feldheim directed the doctor to an auto repair shop in Irvington, New Jersey, to pick up the order. According to the doctor, the garage contained enough materials, including hand sanitizers, Clorox wipes, chemical cleaners and surgical supplies, to outfit an entire hospital.
On March 29, 2020, FBI agents witnessed several instances in which individuals approached Baruch Feldheim’s residence and left with boxes or bags that appeared to contain medical supplies.
On that date, FBI agents approached Feldheim outside his residence.
After identifying themselves as FBI agents, they told him they wanted to stay away from him given concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
When the officers were within a meter and a half of him, Barcuh Feldheim reportedly coughed in their direction without covering his mouth. The officers then told him that they were looking for medical equipment and that they had reason to believe that Feldheim was in possession of the equipment. At that time, Feldheim told FBI agents he had the Coronavirus.
He then allegedly made false statements to FBI agents regarding the possession and sale of equipment.
According to documents filed in court, the assault charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $ 100,000. The misrepresentation charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $ 250,000.
Documents filed with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey do not indicate exactly where in Canada some of the medical equipment seized by police came from.
On Thursday, the US Department of Health and Human Services said equipment seized by the FBI would be distributed to hospitals in the New York area.
“The United States Department of Health and Human Services will pay the owner of the equipment the fair market value of the supplies and has started distributing it to meet critical supply needs at health centers in New York and New York. Jersey ”, we can read in a statement published Thursday on the site of the US Department of Health.
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