Hayim Nissim Cohen, a TikTok influencer who amassed over 300,000 followers by presenting himself as a rabbi raising nine adopted sons in a wholesome Jewish family, was sentenced to 135 years in prison in April 2025 for sexually abusing several of his adopted children.
Cohen, born Jeffrey Lujan Vejil, pleaded guilty to five felonies, including continuous sexual abuse of children, receiving four 40-year sentences and one 15-year sentence from Judge Danilo Lacayo in Houston. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve 40 years without parole.
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The case came to light in February 2023 when Cohen’s 17-year-old adopted son called into a podcast, revealing years of sexual abuse starting at age 11.
This prompted an investigation, leading to Cohen’s arrest. Six of his nine adopted sons, along with a foreign exchange student who lived in his home, reported being sexually abused. The victims, all under 17 during the abuse, delivered impact statements in court, detailing the trauma they endured.
Prosecutors described Cohen’s social media presence, including his website “Our Unique Family,” as a facade to conceal his grooming and abuse of children adopted through Texas’ foster care system.
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Cohen falsely claimed to be a rabbi and misrepresented his sons as coming from Jewish families, despite evidence to the contrary.
His actions were condemned as exploiting vulnerable children, with attorneys criticizing the Texas foster care system for allowing himto adopt nine boys.
One of Cohen’s sons, Avshalom Cohen, was also arrested in 2023 on unrelated charges of sexual assault and human smuggling.
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