New York ( CNN ) -- Three defendants pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to conspiring to defraud a Holocaust reparations organization out of $ 57.3 million , according to court documents . Genrikh Kolontyrskiy , Moysey Kucher and Dora Kucher , all of Brooklyn , helped produce and process some of the thousands of fraudulent applications for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany that are under investigation . The organization , also known as the Claims Conference , distributes more than $ 400 million a year from funds provided by the German government to victims of the Holocaust . `` Our efforts to hold to account all of the individuals who participated in defrauding an organization that exists solely for the purpose of aiding victims of Nazi atrocities continues , '' said Preet Bharara , U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York , in a statement . The defendants aided in defrauding two funds managed by the Claims Conference , the Article 2 Fund and the Hardship Fund , of $ 45 million and $ 12.3 million , respectively , according to court documents . The Article 2 Fund makes monthly payments of around $ 400 to survivors of Nazi persecution who make less than $ 16,000 per year `` and either lived in hiding or under a false identity for at least 18 months , '' according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney 's office . The Hardship Fund pays a one-time payment of $ 3,500 to `` victims of Nazi persecution who evacuated the cities in which they lived and were forced to become refugees . '' Kolontyrskiy , 80 , knowingly processed fraudulent applications for payment while employed with the Article 2 Fund , according to court documents . Moysey Kucher , 66 , and Dora Kucher , 58 , recruited individuals to provide identification documents that were used to prepare fraudulent applications for both funds , in exchange for money paid out to the false applicants , according to court documents . Jesse Siegel , Kolontyrskiy 's attorney , said his client was by no means a major instigator , but he takes responsibility for his actions . `` He admitted his guilt before the court , and now we hope the judge will put my client 's role into context . '' Moysey Kucher is extremely remorseful and feels terrible about what happened , according to his attorney , Richard Asche . Dora Kucher 's attorney , Benjamin Brafman , says Kucher has accepted responsibility for her conduct , which she deeply regrets . `` We are hopeful that at sentencing , the court will find reason to sentence her with great leniency and compassion . '' The three defendants were arrested in 2011 and are among 31 people who have been charged with participating in the scheme . To date , 10 former Claims Conference employees have been charged . `` We are grateful to the FBI and U.S. Attorney 's Office ... for their diligent work that resulted in the three guilty pleas , '' Claims Conference public relations manager Amy Wexler said in a statement . Kolontyrskiy faces a maximum of 40 years in prison , while Moysey Kucher and Dora Kucher each face a maximum of 20 years in prison . All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in August .
Three admit to conspiring to defraud Holocaust reparations group . Defendants handled false applications in scheme that cost organization $ 57.3 million . The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany aids Holocaust victims .