Leon Siff

Leon Siff was a retired probation officer from Los Angeles, California, who became involved in charitable work. He was the chief organizer of "One Universe," a non-profit alliance that included "National Food Relief," "Homes for the Homeless," and "Counseling Without Walls." His organization, also known as "Friends of the Universe," aimed to help the homeless living in and around Venice Beach, Los Angeles.¹

Siff was a Jewish man with a son who became a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka. He met Ari Ben-Menashe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in July 1989, where he was observed dancing alone in a hotel lobby. Siff later invited Ari Ben-Menashe to visit his operations in Los Angeles.¹

In October 1989, Ari Ben-Menashe visited Siff in Los Angeles. Siff insisted Ben-Menashe stay at his home and arranged a party in his honor. During this visit, Ari Ben-Menashe realized that Siff was acquainted with Joseph O'Toole, an individual involved in arms brokering, raising Ben-Menashe's suspicions.¹

Siff was later implicated in Ben-Menashe's arrest. On November 3, 1989, Ari Ben-Menashe was arrested in Siff's bathroom by U.S. Customs Service agents. Siff did not protest the arrest and later refused to admit any part in it, claiming he was looking for a lawyer for Ben-Menashe.¹