Career
He was the son of a wealthy Jewish merchant. His major positions include chief of the GULAG (1930-1932), deputy chief of the GULAG (1932-1936), deputy Narkom of Forest Industry (1936-1937). He was arrested on 31 January 1938.
While imprisoned, he wrote several repentance letters to Yezhov, then to Beria.
He was nonetheless sentenced to death and shot on 3 March 1939. Rehabilitated in 1956.