Lawyer Raphael Golb, son of Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Norman Golb, pleaded not guilty to charges that he stole his father’s professional rivals’ identities and used them to discredit them. Some of the alleged victims include Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, Stephen Goranson, and Jonathan Seidel.
In a press release issued in March, Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau had announced Golb’s arrest on charges of identity theft, criminal impersonation and aggravated harassment. The crimes occurred during the period of July to December of 2008.
According to the criminal complaint, Golb used dozens of aliases in order to influence and affect debate on the Dead Sea Scrolls and in order to harass Dead Sea Scrolls scholars who disagreed with his viewpoint.
As part of the campaign of harassment, Golb allegedly opened an email account, larry.schiffman@gmail.com, and used it to send 11 emails to multiple NYU recipients. In the emails, and writing as Dr. Schiffman, he purportedly admitted to plagiarism. Using other Internet aliases, Golb allegedly also sent emails to NYU personnel and administration accusing Dr. Schiffman of plagiarism.
Golb was charged with Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a class E felony, which is punishable by up to 1⅓ to 4 years in prison; Identity Theft in the Third Degree, Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, Forgery in the Third Degree and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, all class A misdemeanors, which are each punishable by up to 1 year in prison.