Levy-Izhak Rosenbaum was an Israeli-American who was convicted of trafficking kidneys from people in vulnerable populations, such as the poor in Israel, to wealthy recipients in the
United States. He was arrested in 2009 in a massive FBI sting operation and pleaded guilty to the charges. Rosenbaum admitted that he had bought and sold kidneys for at least 10 years, making millions of dollars in profit.
During the trial, it was
revealed that Rosenbaum had a network of people who helped him find donors and buyers, often charging exorbitant fees for their services. Rosenbaum also bribed doctors and hospital staff to
facilitate the illegal
transplants. The case brought attention to the issue of organ trafficking, which is a lucrative but highly unethical and illegal trade.
Rosenbaum was sentenced to 30 months in prison, a relatively light sentence given the severity of his crimes. However, his case prompted increased scrutiny of organ trafficking and efforts to crack down on the illegal trade.