Houston scammer arrested after posing as Jewish and pretending to be rabbi, lawyer and police officer

A Houston man falsely claiming to be Jewish and misrepresenting himself in many other areas of life has been arrested and is being held in a Harris County jail as police continue to unravel the mystery.

Dustin Mitchell, aka Dustin Cohen-Mitchell, was arrested May 16 in Houston on four fraud-related charges, including illegal possession of multiple firearms by a convicted felon.

Mitchell — who has falsely represented himself as a rabbi, lawyer and police officer over the past two decades — is also accused of spending $15,000 using a credit card that belonged to a deceased Houston Jewish woman.

Ironically, Mitchell was caught in his web of lies when he reported to police that someone had painted anti-Israel graffiti on his truck in March 2024.

The police began to review the report and noticed that the evidence seemed a bit off. They concluded that Mitchell had spray-painted the truck himself.

Delving further into Mitchell's questionable past, police eventually arrested him.

“He is under investigation for creating several fictitious nonprofit organizations,” Houston Police Detective Brian Tsai said.

Court records show Mitchell, 43, was charged with fraud-related crimes in Missouri, dating back to 2006.

Mitchell eventually made his way to Texas, where in 2017 and 2018 he recorded
indicate he was arrested after posing as an attorney in the Dallas area.

He was convicted of these crimes and served time in prison.

Travis Mitchell, Dustin's brother, said that throughout his adult life he knew his brother was a scammer. He said his brother victimized him in 2011 when he was going through the most difficult time of his life.

“My wife and I lost our second child. Dustin walked over and said, “I'll help you, I'll help you organize a fundraiser.” He did all that, and well, the funeral home never got the money,” he said.

Travis says he estimates the number of victims linked to his brother's fraudulent activities is in the hundreds.

“He finds people who are hurt, he finds weakness. And he feeds on it. Like right now with the Jewish community there,” he said.

Mitchell moved from Dallas to Houston around 2022 and was employed by Chabad of West Houston and Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, who works as a prison rabbi to rehabilitate and reintegrate former inmates into more productive and traditional lives.

Rabbi Goldstein met Mitchell through his prison program and, as he did with countless other inmates, worked with him to achieve his rehabilitation.

“I am a big believer in rehabilitation, but unfortunately sometimes complete success is not achieved,” Rabbi Goldstein said.

Rabbi Goldstein told JHV that while the details of the investigation are still being pieced together, the seriousness of the accusations demanded Mitchell's immediate termination. The rabbi alerted his congregation to the situation in an email last week.

During his two years in Houston, Mitchell earned the trust of countless people through what he presented as hard work and mitzvot.

While working for Chabad of West Houston, Mitchell met Patti “Rivka” Weilbaecher, who died in August 2023. Mitchell is accused of using her credit cards after her death for more than $15,000 in unauthorized charges.

After befriending Weilbaecher, Mitchell obtained power of attorney, paid for his burial, but then took the remaining funds for himself.

In Houston, Mitchell opened a nonprofit organization, the Aleph Foundation, which he often used as a front to collect donations for various causes, ranging from the war in Israel to the storms in Houston and even community with needs special.

Although none of his crimes appear to be violent in nature, the gun possession charges against a convicted felon could keep him behind bars for some time.

If you think you may have been a victim of Mitchell, call the Houston Police Department's Major Offender Bureau at 713-308-3100.