February 15th, 2010
Truth Win’s Out and South Florida Gay News teamed up for a joint investigation to learn that Arthur Goldberg, head of Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH), was convicted in 1989 of conspiracy to defraud the United States:
In 1989, Goldberg plead guilty in federal court in California and Illinois to three counts of wire and mail fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The accusations he admitted to include his participation as the engineer of a phony bond and investment scheme, which netted his Wall Street investment firm nearly $11 million in illegal fees.
The U.S. Attorney who handled the case at the time, K. William O’Connor, told the court at his sentencing that Goldberg’s crime was “a fraud of spectacular scope.”
The SEC banned Goldberg and his firm from ever selling securities again. In addition to his prison term, Goldberg was disbarred in both New Jersey and Connecticut. Despite that, he lists himself as a Doctor of Laws today on the website of NARTH.
He was found guilty of selling fake bonds to Guam and the city of East St. Louis. SFGN has more:
Goldberg was sentence to 18 months imprisonment in the Central District of California, which he served concurrently with an Illinois sentence imposed at the same time. It was followed by five years if supervised probation and a $100,000 fine, eventually paid on November 24, 1999.
K. William O’Connor, the U.S. attorney who put him away, said at his sentencing that Goldberg was “a man who habitually took advantage of people who were economically dependent upon him; that he did not hesitate to lie or cheat or cover up to achieve his criminal aims. His greed has caused incalculable harm…”
Golberg’s full name is Arthur Abba Goldberg. He was given the nickname of “Abba Dabba Do.” He dropped his middle name “Abba” when he founded JONAH in 2000, almost immediately after paying the last installment of his fine. In addition to his work in JONAH, he is also president of the umbrella ex-gay organization known as Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality (PATH). Member groups include the National Association of Reserach and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH); Courage, a Catholic ex-gay ministry; Evergreen International, a Mormon ex-gay organization;Richard Cohen’s International Healing Foundation; and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX).
South Florida Gay News has an exhaustive report, and Truth Win’s Out has posted newspaper articles from the 1980’s of the investigation and trial leading up to Goldberg’s conviction and sentencing.
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Richard Rush
February 15th, 2010
Abba Dabba Do may now be saying to himself:
“All I’ve ever had is a con-game and now I won’t even have that. Let’s face it, all I know how to do is take money from gullible people.”
Richard Rush
February 15th, 2010
Abba Dabba Do may now be saying to himself:
“All I’ve ever had is a con-game and now I won’t even have that. Let’s face it, all I know how to do is take money from gullible people.”
B John
February 15th, 2010
One small point, if he did earn a Doctor of Laws degree, he may continue to use honorific. He may not refer to himself as a lawyer if he’s been disbarred, but disbarment doesn’t take away academic credentials…again assuming those aren’t also a scam.
David C.
February 15th, 2010
Once a con man, always a con man, at least in the case of Arthur Goldberg. The pathetic Ex-gay Industrialists are all cut from the same cloth.
Burr
February 15th, 2010
Just a natural transition. Can’t con people one way? Con them another way..
I guess it’s hard for people to take you seriously as an ex-gay leader with a middle name like Abba. ;)
John
February 15th, 2010
With the middle name Abba, and his latest con job involving running an ex-gay group, I think his nickname shouldn’t be Abba dabba do, but “Dancing Queen” instead.
Ben in Oakland
February 15th, 2010
A sheep and his fleece are soon parted.
Emily K
February 15th, 2010
But wikipedia lists Arthur’s middle name as “Avrum.” Now, in Hebrew, the words are similar – “abba” means “father,” and “avrum” (or “abram”) are derived from that word…
J
February 15th, 2010
@Emily — That was actually changed just today if you look at the Wikipedia history. It was done to obviously throw everyone off!
Emily K
February 15th, 2010
You’re right, J. Before it was just “A.” Curiouser and curiouser.
grantdale
February 16th, 2010
Urmm, I thought this was well known. ?
Also, Exodus International was once a member of PATH. And we would know…
aah the old Throckmorton, before the toupee.
J
February 16th, 2010
@emily: and now his personal wiki page is mysteriously GONE!! hows that for curious :)
Evan Hurst
February 16th, 2010
Yeah, there’s a Wikipedia user registered as “Ann Jonah” who’s furiously scrubbing everything about him.
But the relative silence is otherwise deafening.
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