Israeli fugitive accused of child sex crimes captured in Lakewood after global manhunt
A joint operation by U.S. Marshals and Homeland Security Investigations led to the arrest of a man wanted by Israel for alleged crimes against minors, as extradition proceedings begin.
Lakewood – U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force members, working in coordination with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, arrested a fugitive in Lakewood, NJ, who is wanted by Israeli authorities for sex crimes against children. Yechiel Yehoshua Farkas, also known as Yechiel Farkash, a 43-year-old Lakewood resident, was taken into federal custody without incident in Lakewood on April 16, 2026 by HSI special agents and members of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The investigation was conducted jointly by HSI Newark, HSI Los Angeles, and the U.S. Marshals Service, alongside international law enforcement partners. After authorities were notified that Israel was seeking to prosecute, coordination efforts led to his location and arrest. Pursuant to the U.S.-Israel extradition treaty, the Government of Israel requested a provisional arrest pending extradition, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey obtained a provisional arrest warrant from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Farkash committed the acts while working as a teacher and director at Torat Hahyahim, a yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Israel between 2020 and 2023, according to court documents and the U.S. Marshals. The Asbury Park Press notes that Farkas started grooming one boy when he was 15, luring him with gifts and money, showing him pornography and telling him not to be ungrateful when he resisted his sexual advances, the complaint reads. According to charging documents, Farkash tried to sexually assault the boy on several occasions in Israel, including in a hot tub while at a bed and breakfast, at a waterpark, in a vehicle on a drive and in an apartment he rented. He tried to kiss and touch another teen boy in a car while on a shopping excursion, according to the charging documents.
Farkash fled Israel on Jan. 4, 2024 after the first victim reported him to a staff member at the Jewish boarding school.
“This arrest reflects the strength of international cooperation in pursing individuals accused of serious crimes, especially those involving the exploitation of minors,” said Nicholas Ricigliano, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey, in a release from the U.S. Marshals.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting New Jersey by enhancing border security and ensuring the United States does not become a haven for criminal fugitives,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy in a release from ICE.
“Through robust collaboration with HSI Los Angeles, the U.S. Marshals Service and our global law enforcement partners, we proactively identify individuals who threaten public safety and diligently pursue justice for those accused of serious indecent acts against minors. The United States will not provide sanctuary to those seeking to escape accountability,” McCarthy continued.
The extradition matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey in coordination with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The U.S. Marshals Service has a longstanding role in supporting fugitive investigations through strong interagency partnerships. These efforts have led to the development of both permanent and ad hoc task forces designed to respond to cases posing immediate threats to public safety. In 2025, U.S. Marshals Service-led fugitive task forces arrested more than 73,000 fugitives and cleared nearly 88,000 warrants nationwide.
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