Grand Opening PRESTON BURKE Feds Launch Probe Of N.Y. Yeshivas GALLERY CORNER OF W. 12 MILE ROAD & HALSTED, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI IN HALSTED VILLAGE CENTER New York (JTA) — A local probe of a college student grant program at Rockland Community College has led to a major federal criminal investigation of the aid pro- gram at more than 20 yeshivas and colleges with Judaic studies programs in the New York area, accor- ding to law enforcement sources. Fines totaling more than $1 million have already been levied against four yeshivas, three of them in Monsey, N.Y., and the fourth, which is now closed, in Brooklyn. Three of the schools are alleged to have fraudulently applied for the college stu- dent grants by listing as ap- plicants local high school students. Charges against the fourth involve alleged forgery and other ir- regularities in the operation of its Israeli campus. The amount of fraud de- tected in the nation's stu- dent aid programs has in- creased from $225 million in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1992, to more than $300 million since Oct. 1, an Edu- cation Department spokes- woman said. One source familiar with the current probe, which is focusing on Pell grants, said the schools involved may have bilked the federal government out of $100 mill- ion. Another said the list of schools being investigated ' "reads like a who's who of major yeshivas." Although all of the schools in the current federal probe are yeshivas or schools with Judaic studies programs, the spokeswoman insisted that "we're not targeting any particular group of schools." But the Washington at- torney for all four yeshivas, Michael Brustein, said he has "a very significant con- cern that an inordinate amount of the Education Department's resources are being focused or targeted on Judaic schools. We think there is unfair treatment here." The Education Depart- ment spokeswoman said there are 8,500 colleges par- ticipating in federal tuition aid programs, including 6,300 in the Pell grant pro- gram, and that all are sub- ject to annual reviews. The cases involved in this particular review, she said, "show some consistency and perhaps a possible pattern" of abuse. Pell grants are awarded to students with a financial need who have a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma or who take a test proving that they would benefit from a college education. - The spokeswoman said that if her department's re- view of an institution turns up evidence of irregularities in the disbursement of Pell grants, the case may be turned over to the depart- ment's inspector general to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing. If he concludes that there might have been, the case is re- ferred to the Justice Department. Sources said the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office has empaneled a grand jury to look into the matter. A spokeswoman for the of- fice refused to comment, say- ing it is standing policy not to confirm or deny investiga- tions. Justice Department in- vestigators, it has been learned, are working with officials of the U.S. Depart- ment of Education in their review of "more than 20 and less than 100" yeshivas and schools with Judaic studies programs. AMEX Bank Is Fined Washington (JTA) — The Commerce Department an- nounced this week that it was imposing a $103,000 fine on American Express Bank, Ltd., for allegedly complying with terms of the Arab boycott of Israel. The New York-based bank, a subsidiary of the American Express Co., agreed to pay the fine but did not admit or deny that it had violated U.S. antiboycott laws. The Commerce Depart- ment charged the bank with having committed 39 alleged violations of the Export Ad- ministration Act and Regulations between August 1988 and January 1992. Among the alleged viola- tions were 13 allegations that the bank provided Leb- anon and Oman with infor- mation about business rela- tionships with Israel, the Commerce Department said. NOW AVAILABLE! ■ GIFTS o t We feature the /la-lei/A \A-vw--, gift line plus much more. ■ FINE ART Anne Wilkinson-Burke, IBD design consultant for your space planning, furniture and material specification, purchasing, presentations, cost estimates and art selections. A wide selection of American and Internationally known artists for home and office. ■ CHILDREN The perfect choice for those youngsters in your life. ■ CUSTOM FRAMING When it's important enough to frame properly. Call today 488- 0200 for your FREE consultation at our gallery. Newly designed and refinished antique and contemporary furniture on display at our gallery. INTRODUCTORY OFFER with this AD ONLY! I A beautiful limited edition Art Print by one of America's great artists. Actual size 26" x 38". (Limit 1 per family, please!) 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