Israel gangsters
Berkowitz, who fled to Israel after his indictment in 2003, was arrested in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities in 2009 and returned to the U.S. to face the charges. He pleaded guilty in January in federal court in Chicago to mail fraud and conspiracy charges and was sentenced late Friday to 18 years and 4 months in prison.
In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall noted the scheme's complexity, Berkowitz's 20-year history of tax fraud and his arrogance that he was above the law. Seven others, including two of Berkowitz's sons and a son-in-law, have also been convicted.
"It was a serious crime and it is a serious sentence," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Merin.