Former U-M assistant professor wanted on child porn charges leaves job in Israel
A former University of Michigan assistant biology professor wanted on child porn charges has left his job at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.
Tzvi Tzfira, 43, cited personal reasons when he announced earlier this month that he was leaving his post as an associate professor in the Department of Life Sciences, the school's legal adviser, Tamar Mund, said today.
Tzfira
Tzfira was charged in February in federal court in Detroit with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Authorities consider him a fugitive. "We've been in contact with his lawyers, trying to work out something for him to come back," said Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit.
Attorney Ray Cassar, who is representing Tzfira, said Tzfira has retained an attorney in Israel, who secured a gag order on the case in that country. Cassar did not have details on the order. He said Tzfira is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
AnnArbor.com reported last month that Tzfira was working at the university in Israel, seven months after being charged in the case.
Cassar has said that Tzfira went to Israel in December 2010 to care for his mother, who was seriously ill. He also has said Tzfira told the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office he would return to deal with the case and that remains the plan.
Tzfira worked five years as an assistant biology professor at U-M, resigning in December 2010 to take another position, U-M officials have said.
He is accused of sharing child porn over a peer-to-peer network. The investigation began when Italian law enforcement officials contacted the FBI about several U.S.-based computers involved in distributing child porn, court records show. After following up on a specific screen name, FBI agents executed a search warrant on July 15, 2010, at Tzfira's home in Pittsfield Township, records say. One computer seized revealed more than 40 images of children engaging in sexual acts, an FBI affidavit says. Investigators say the children ranged in age from less than a year to 12 years old.
If convicted of distributing child porn, Tzfira faces a minimum of 15 years in prison.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Lee Higgins
Mon, Oct 31, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.
Israeli authorities have summoned Tzfira for questioning, Ynet news is reporting: <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4140529,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4140529,00.html</a>
Sallyxyz
Fri, Oct 28, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
He'll slide out of this and not return to the US to face charges. Are you kidding? Why a gag order in Israel? He's not coming back to the US unless he is returned by force at taxpayer's expense. If he ever does show up here, throw the book at him. No excuses. No plea deals.
Lee Higgins
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 10:44 a.m.
Coverage of the case by Ynetnews in Tel Aviv: <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4139752,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4139752,00.html</a>
Marilyn Wilkie
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
Thanks for including this. This statement from his attorney is interesting. This article must have appeared before the gag order?? "It seems that all they care about is to distribute the brilliant Israeli professor's photo while he is handcuffed."
RJA
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:17 a.m.
His crap is catching up to him. Some how, some way, we need to get him back here and let him serve up to the 15 years.
DBH
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.
He has been accused of the crime, but not convicted of it. Until and unless that should happen, he has no prison time awaiting him.
trespass
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
We should be asking the US Attorney's office why they did not charge him immediatel and take away his passport and set a high bail while he awaited trial. I think it was pretty obvious that he could easily flee to Israel. How about some competence on the part of our US Attorney!
Roadman
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
One aspect of this case I find interesting is that the State of Israel has not detained Tzifira based upon the outstanding federal arrest warrant despite the fact of an extradition treaty existing between Israel and the U.S. Why not? I see two possible scenarios developing: (1) If Israel does not extradite Tzifira his attorneys can negotiate a favorable plea deal with the leverage being that he could remain in Israel indefinitely; or (2) from Israel he could travel into a nation or region without extradition treaties with the United States; neither Lebanon nor the Palestinian Authority, for example, have any such arrangements with the U.S. and each borders on Israel. I have sincere doubts that he would voluntarily return to the U.S. while he faces a minimum 15 years in prison.
Roadman
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
Oops! That link should have been: <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/extraditionpol.html" rel='nofollow'>www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/extraditionpol.html</a>
Roadman
Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
Generally, yes; however loopholes still exist. A good source to review is: <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/source/history/extraditionpol.html" rel='nofollow'>www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/source/history/extraditionpol.html</a>
trespass
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:08 p.m.
Roadman- does the extradition treaty with Israel include Israeli citizens. I remember a case of a jewish teenager who killed his girlfriend and fled to Israel, where he had dual citizenship. Israel would not extradite him.