Rabbi Is Convicted of Money Conspiracy : Courts: Jury fails to reach verdicts on counts of bank fraud and charges that Abraham Low actually engaged in the laundering of cash, as distinct from conspiring to do so. It was his second trial.

A Los Angeles federal court jury on Thursday convicted an Orthodox rabbi of conspiracy to launder drug money.

The jury deliberated more than a week before finding Abraham Low, rabbi at Mogen Abraham, an Orthodox Jewish synagogue on La Brea Avenue, guilty of one felony charge.

The jurors were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on two other money-laundering charges and six bank-fraud charges.

It was the second trial for Low. Last year, a different jury failed to reach a verdict on any of the charges against the 43-year-old rabbi after deliberating for 25 days.

Low’s attorney, Thomas J. Nolan, said his client was disappointed at the conviction and planned to ask U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi for a new trial. If the request is denied, Low will appeal the verdict, Nolan said.

Takasugi scheduled a May 9 hearing for post-trial motions and to ascertain whether the government will seek to retry Low on any of the charges on which the jury failed to reach a verdict.

During the latest trial, the government presented video and audio tapes of meetings between Low and an undercover FBI agent posing as a drug dealer who wanted the rabbi to launder money for him. Prosecutors said the tape showed Low’s financial acumen and his desire to engage in profitable, illegal activities.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Leslie A. Swain said Low met five times with the undercover agent.

The agent said Low told him how he could set up a long-term money-laundering operation and transfer the illicit drug money through diamond dealers and through charity-related bank accounts in Europe. The agent said Low told him he could launder up to $5 million a week.

The jury, while favoring guilt by a 10-2 vote, was unable to reach unanimous verdicts on two charges that Low actually engaged in money laundering, as distinct from conspiring to do it.

The jury was evenly divided on charges that Low defrauded Home Savings of America when he deposited a $496,000 Bank of America cashier’s check that turned out to be stolen and forged.

Low, financial consultant Alan Weston, 50, of Hollywood and Sharlesseta Brown of Lomita were indicted in January, 1993.

Weston pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and testified against Low. Brown pleaded guilty to related charges on Wednesday, Swain said.

The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiracy is a five-year prison term and a $250,000 fine.