A former senior executive at one of Los Angeles’ oldest synagogues is at the center of an expanding fraud investigation after officials accused him of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for the religious institution.
Eric Nicastro, who served as executive director of Adat Ari El for more than a decade, is also the subject of a civil lawsuit alleging that he diverted synagogue funds to support a hidden lifestyle marked by gambling, drug and alcohol addiction.
Nicastro, who reportedly earned an annual salary of about $215,000 before leaving the organization in 2025, has not been criminally charged.
His former wife, interior designer Jessica Alpert, is also named in the civil action but likewise faces no criminal charges.
Civil Complaint Alleges Significant Financial Misconduct
According to the synagogue’s 20-page complaint, Adat Ari El believes Nicastro improperly obtained between $300,000 and $400,000 through unauthorized use of synagogue assets and property for personal gain.
The filing also alleges he stole $15,000 in cash from a synagogue safe to which he allegedly had exclusive access.
The lawsuit further claims investigators are examining additional financial schemes that may have resulted in even greater losses.
Synagogue officials contend the total value of suspicious transactions could exceed $2.5 million after reviewing years of financial records.
Discovery Began During Medical Leave
Questions surrounding the synagogue’s finances reportedly intensified after Nicastro took medical leave in April 2025.
To maintain daily operations, synagogue leadership reassigned access to his work email and administrative responsibilities.
Officials say that review uncovered numerous questionable invoices and reimbursement requests dating back several years.
Financial administrators allegedly found repeated instances where supporting documentation was missing or incomplete, despite earlier concerns reportedly raised in late 2024.
Fake Vendor Invoices Among Alleged Schemes
Investigators allege Nicastro submitted invoices for vendors that either had no business relationship with the synagogue or never supplied the listed products and services.
One example cited in investigative documents involves an $85,000 invoice allegedly attributed to playground equipment manufacturer Zoom Recreation.
According to synagogue officials, the company confirmed it had never received such an order from Adat Ari El.
Authorities also identified additional invoices involving furniture, playground materials, equipment purchases and contractor services that investigators believe were fabricated.
The lawsuit alleges reimbursement payments connected to those invoices were instead diverted for Nicastro’s personal use.
Report Describes Alleged Admission During Staff Meeting
Court documents and a police warrant describe a July 20, 2025 Zoom meeting during which synagogue leaders confronted Nicastro with their findings.
According to investigators, he responded by acknowledging personal struggles rather than disputing the accusations.
Police documents state he described himself as “a sick person” and admitted battling addictions involving gambling, drugs and alcohol.
He also reportedly expressed a desire for a complete financial accounting so he could “do right by the community.”
Detectives say Nicastro resigned five days later and did not participate further in the synagogue’s internal review.
Former Wife Rejects Allegations
Jessica Alpert, a well-known Los Angeles interior designer, has denied any wrongdoing and filed a crossclaim against her former husband.
In court filings, she argues she was never employed by the synagogue and therefore had no involvement in its financial operations.
She also maintains that the couple’s divorce agreement shields her from liabilities arising from Nicastro’s former employment.
Nevertheless, the synagogue alleges proceeds from the suspected embezzlement were deposited into the couple’s joint accounts and used for shared household expenses.
It is also seeking to halt certain asset transfers made during the divorce proceedings, arguing they may have been intended to place property beyond the reach of potential creditors.
Divorce Proceedings Included Substance Abuse Restrictions
The couple, who were married for 14 years and share two children, finalized their divorce earlier this year after separating in 2025.
Court records indicate Alpert received primary physical custody, while both parents retained joint legal custody.
The settlement imposed strict conditions on Nicastro’s parenting time, including prohibitions against alcohol or non-prescribed drug use before visitation and mandatory breathalyzer testing during parenting periods.
Documents also indicate he was undergoing substance abuse treatment when the divorce agreement was finalized.
Congregation Shocked by Fall of Respected Leader
Before the allegations surfaced, Nicastro was widely regarded as a prominent figure within Adat Ari El, a Valley Village congregation with roughly 800 member households and longstanding ties to the Los Angeles entertainment community.
Supporters of the synagogue’s programs have included actors Joshua Malina and Mayim Bialik.
During his tenure, Nicastro became known for introducing a controversial “give-what-you-can” membership model in 2018.
The initiative replaced the synagogue’s longstanding dues structure in an effort to make participation more affordable as membership declined.
Although the proposal generated debate within the congregation, it reflected Nicastro’s vision of modernizing synagogue membership before his career ultimately became overshadowed by the ongoing legal battle.
Investigation Continues
The civil lawsuit remains active while law enforcement continues investigating the financial allegations.
Both Nicastro and Alpert deny liability, and neither has been charged with a criminal offense.
The case is expected to determine whether synagogue officials can recover any funds they claim were improperly obtained, while investigators continue examining the full scope of the alleged financial misconduct.
Summary
Former Adat Ari El executive director Eric Nicastro is under investigation and faces a civil lawsuit accusing him of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Los Angeles synagogue through allegedly fraudulent invoices and reimbursements.
Investigators claim he admitted struggling with gambling, drug and alcohol addictions after being confronted by synagogue leaders.
His former wife, Jessica Alpert, denies involvement and has challenged the allegations in court. No criminal charges have been filed as investigations and civil proceedings continue.
