Jury Convicts Manhattan Lawyer of Online Crime for Impersonating NYU Prof in Academic Argument
A New York real estate lawyer contends he was simply contributing to an academic debate when he sent out e-mails in the name of a New York University professor who supported the position of his father, a professor at the University of Chicago, on the origins of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls.
But a jury disagreed, convicting Raphael Golb yesterday of 29 of 30 counts in the identity theft, criminal impersonation and harassment case, according to the New York Daily News.
Golb, who apparently took on the professor’s identity to forward his father’s side of the academic argument, contends he was parodying the NYU professor, Lawrence Schiffman, in conducting what Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. characterized as a “sock puppet” campaign. Golb says he will appeal yesterday’s verdict.
“Today what happened was the district attorney of New York County and the trial court made hurting somebody’s feelings a criminal act,” says his defense lawyer, Ronald Kuby. “In New York, hurting people’s feelings or being annoying is not a crime.”
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer Accused of Online Harassment of Father’s Dead Sea Scrolls Rival”
Updated at 11:25 a.m. to clarify lede.
