A father is taking legal action against a group of individuals he accuses of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to steal his identity and manipulate his financial standing. On December 4, 2025, Yisroel M. Plaut filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Jacob S. Bard, Sruly Bard, Mordechai Seidenfeld, and an unnamed auto dealer/mechanic.
The lawsuit details a complex narrative involving alleged identity theft and financial manipulation by the defendants. According to the complaint, the Bard brothers, along with their associate Seidenfeld and an unidentified auto dealer/mechanic, are accused of using Plaut's identity to obtain high-value vehicles and merchandise. These items were allegedly dismantled and sold for parts, leaving Plaut burdened with significant debts. The complaint further alleges that this fraudulent activity forced Plaut into a manipulated Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding to erase these debts while concealing the defendants' actions.
Plaut claims that Sruly Bard was the mastermind behind this scheme, devising strategies for obtaining credit in Plaut's name. Jacob Bard is described as executing these plans by managing day-to-day operations and handling finances, while Seidenfeld allegedly benefited financially from these activities. The plaintiff also asserts that UBGP LLC and its investment in Chevra Kadisha USA LLC were used as conduits for illicit money flows and control.
The plaintiff seeks relief under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), demanding treble damages and attorneys’ fees alongside state-law remedies for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Additional relief sought includes an accounting of UBGP’s finances, removal of Jacob Bard as Managing Member of UBGP, appointment of a temporary manager or receiver, or alternatively judicial dissolution of UBGP.
Representing Yisroel M. Plaut is attorney Christian N. Martinez from Chester, New York. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:25-cv-06714 in front of judges at the Eastern District Court of New York.
Source: 125cv06714_Plaut_v_Bard_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf