A TikTok-famous father based in Houston, Texas, has been charged with molesting his adopted sons after one of them came forward about the sexual abuse last month.
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Hayim Nissim Cohen, 38, made a name for himself on TikTok by documenting his life as a single man who adopted nine boys. Cohen claimed to be a Hasidic Jew from Brooklyn, New York, but it was later revealed that he was born Jeffrey Lujan Vejil in Texas. His 17-year-old son revealed anonymously on a podcast last month that Cohen sexually abused him since he was 11 years old and that his other adopted brothers were also abused.
Predator ‘Hayim Nissim Cohen’ fakes being a Rabbi to adopt 9 children now facing 11 felony charges after raping boys and long history of child sex crimes! Story @ReduxxMag pic.twitter.com/5SO0HoUFRL
— KoryYeshua (@KoryYeshua) March 6, 2023
The teen told BlindSkinnedBeauty that he was afraid to come forward because Child Protective Services had failed to assist him and his brothers despite being called numerous times. The interview prompted a police investigation, and the other five boys have come forward to report the abuse. CPS is currently caring for six of the boys, ages 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, and 17, while the other three appeared in court to support their father.
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During the court hearing, prosecutors said the boys were kept locked in a room for most of the day, and Cohen only let them out when he wanted to perform sexual acts. A 16-year-old victim said he was once pepper sprayed by him if he refused to perform any sexual acts. Cohen had a previous charge of “indecency” with a child after he was accused of harming a foreign exchange student from Spain in 2019, as reported by the New York Post.
Following the sexual abuse charges filed against Hayim Nissim Cohen in early Feb and the prior charges in 2019 for allegedly sexually abusing a foreign exchange student, Cohen has been charged with a series of new offenses relating to the sexual and physical abuse of children. pic.twitter.com/sA0pFEJGWQ
— ZA’AKAH – Crying Out for the Silenced (@ZAAKAHNY) February 28, 2023
Multiple investigations were launched, including revealing Cohen’s real identity as a resident born in Odessa and changing his name in 2009 after converting to Judaism. He believed that Jewish foster children needed to be raised in Jewish homes. Cohen also claimed on social media that he was battling a terminal illness, but prosecutors revealed his diagnosis was false.
The 17-year-old victim says he only appeared in a wheelchair while posting content on social media or if people were visiting the home. Currently, it is unclear how he was able to adopt the boys and what agency he used.
The case has caused outrage on social media as Cohen used the Jewish religion to allegedly harm the children and abuse them for fame on social media.
This is truly sad, we are citizens no matter what are, but ppl whom we trust all our lives are the ones hurting us. The Bible states Mother against daughter and Father against sons, but it seems like most people in the family disappoints you the MOST
— Mzcoco56 (@Mrscoco54) February 17, 2023