Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of a Rockland County business man who pretended to be a doctor and paid young women to submit to gynecological exams in a Park Avenue medical office as part of a phony insurance survey.

The defendant, ZALMAN SILBER, 41, has been indicted on charges of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, multiple counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title, and Forcible Touching. The crimes charged in the indictment occurred between July 16, 2003 and January 29, 2004.

The investigation revealed that SILBER rented out space in a Murray Hill doctor’s office, located at 15-17 Park Avenue, from spring 2003 to January 29, 2004. Victims were told they would get paid approximately $100 to participate in an insurance survey or examination. The victims, all Orthodox Jewish women in their late teens and 20s, were encouraged to bring their female friends to participate. The defendant used an intermediary to locate women for the survey or examination.

The first victim went to SILBER’S so-called medical office to meet him during the summer of 2003. The victim brought a female friend along with her. The defendant identified himself as a doctor, took the victim into an examination room, told the victim to completely undress and put on an examination gown. He then sexually assaulted her and paid her after the examination. The victim’s friend went into the examining room next and the defendant performed a similar examination and also paid her a stipend.

On January 29, 2004, three additional young women went to the Park Avenue office to meet SILBER under the guise of participating in an insurance survey and/or examination. The defendant had all three women fill out medical forms. SILBER identified himself as a doctor and took the third victim into an examination room; but did not physically examine her. He nonetheless paid her for the visit. SILBER then identified himself as a doctor and took the fourth victim into an examining room. He told her to completely undress and put on an examination robe. He then sexually assaulted her and paid her a stipend. Similarly with the fifth victim, the defendant identified himself as a doctor, took her into the examining room, told her to undress and put on a gown, sexually assaulted her, and paid her a stipend.

The incidents were reported to the New York City Police Department, Manhattan Special Victims Squad, which referred the case to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

A background check of the New York State Department of Education’s records revealed that the defendant is not licensed to practice medicine.

The investigation is continuing as to other victims. Victims are encouraged to call the Manhattan District Attorney’s Sex Crimes Unit hotline at: 212-335-9373.

SILBER has been charged with four counts of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, 12 counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, five counts of Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title, and one count of Forcible Touching.

Unauthorized Practice of a Profession is a class E felony, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree is a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to three months in jail. Forcible Touching and Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title are class A misdemeanors, which are punishable by up to one year in jail. The defendant was arraigned today in New York State Supreme Court.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Hare presented the case to the grand jury and will be in charge of the prosecution under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Lisa Friel, Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit. 

Defendant Information:

Zalman Silber, 07/01/67
12 Kooperman Lane
Monsey, New York

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