LOS ANGELES -- The cousin of a man who disappeared with his family under suspicious circumstances has denied reports his relative was connected to the Israeli Mafia, and says a $50,000 reward fund is being established.
'I don't know of any mafia ties or any other organized crime connections that Sol Salomon has,' Marty Laffer said in an interview broadcast by KNXT-TV Wednesday.
Law enforcement officials say the Israeli Mafia is a loosely structured group of Israeli nationals based in Los Angeles that deals in narcotics, insurance fraud and other illegal activities.
Salomon, 35, his wife Elaine, 39, and their children, Michalle, 15, and Mitchell, 9, were last heard from on the evening of Oct. 12, when Eliane Salomon talked with a friend on the telephone.
Two days later, friends and relatives contacted police, who searched the family's San Fernando Valley house and found bloodstains in the daughter's bedroom. A Rolls-Royce, jewelry and $2,500 in cash had been left behind.
Wallets bearing the identification of Sol Salomon, who emigrated to the United States 10 years ago from Israel, and his wife were discovered by authorities last Friday in brush alongside the Antelope Valley Freeway.
Laffer said a reward fund for information in the case is being established.
'The last two days, the family and friends of Sol and Elaine Salomon have offered to contribute to a reward fund which the family is now in the process of establishing,' he said. 'Based on the initial reaction of these people, we anticipate having about $50,000.'
