News broke all across social media Thursday morning April 14 that Town of Ramapo Supvervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was arrested by FBI agents and the Rockland County DA’s office on charges related to the construction of Providence Bank Park.
FBI agents raid Ramapo Town Hall in May of 2013, kicking off an investigation into Supervisor Chris St. Lawrence that led to his Thursday April 14 arrest.
The supervisor’s arrest stems from the May 2013 raid of Ramapo Town Hall by FBI agents. US Attorney Preet Bharara, along with FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission officials, held a news conference at 11 a.m. in New York City, detailing the charges against the Ramapo Supervisor and others involved in the still-ongoing investigation.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara: Ramapo corruption defendants “kicked truth and transparency to the curb” in eagerness to finance ballpark.
— lohud.com (@lohud) April 14, 2016
U.S. Atty Preet Bharara and #Ramapo probe: A whistleblower “got the ball rolling in a significant way.”
— lohud.com (@lohud) April 14, 2016
US Attorney Preet Bharara charges Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence & Aaron Troodler for raising $150 million in false bonds
— Naveen Dhaliwal (@NaveenDhaliwal) April 14, 2016
.@PreetBharara on #Ramapo: Complex case. “takes time to connect the dots & figure out where the money went” Investigation not done. @lohud
— Gary Stern (@GarySternNY) April 14, 2016
Analysis: St. Lawrence, undaunted by controversy, faces biggest one yet https://t.co/wVINrC9gtG via @lohud
— Steve Lieberman (@LoHudLegal) April 14, 2016
St. Lawrence has been dogged in recent years by controversy and increasing community opposition surrounding the construction of the ball park as well as the supervisor’s appointments to town boards and other town dealings.
3 years after @NewYorkFBI raid on #Ramapo Town Hall … https://t.co/tf0h1kh7O3 @PreetBharara @SDNYnews #Rockland pic.twitter.com/k3T9Tm3OqK
— nancy cutler (@nancyrockland) April 14, 2016
Recently, Ramapo Fire Inspector Adam Peltz came under investigation and also Town Councilman Samuel Tress was arrested in an investigation related to zoning board of appeals votes.
Ramapo benches Fire Inspector Adam Peltz until review of his inspections of private schools is completed after harsh state criticism
— Steve Lieberman (@LoHudLegal) April 13, 2016
More arrests likely after FBI-Rockland DA nab Ramapo Supervisor Chris St. Lawrence in corruption probe https://t.co/zrLkMmjiG3
— Steve Lieberman (@LoHudLegal) April 14, 2016
Breaking: Former Ramapo LDC Exec Director Aaron Troodler also indicted in stadium financing probe. https://t.co/2gGiHORb09
— lohud.com (@lohud) April 14, 2016
#Ramapo Town Attorney & Dep. Finance Director busted in corruption probe, facing civil fraud charges filed by SEC. @News12HV
— Blaise Gomez (@BlaiseGomez12) April 14, 2016
Ramapo town attorney Michael Klein and finance deputy Nate Oberman face SEC civil charges for misleading bonds buyers on millions in cash
— Steve Lieberman (@LoHudLegal) April 14, 2016
According to a LoHud timeline on this issue, Ramapo voters rejected a $16 million bond for stadium construction in 2010 but the Ramapo Land Development Corp (RLD) moved forward with plans for the ball park, with the Ramapo Town Council approving $25 million in bonds in 2011 without a public vote on the matter.
St. Lawrence was expected to be arraigned in federal court Thursday morning in White Plains.
Waiting outside federal court in White Plains for Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence after his arrest today pic.twitter.com/mzReYrHllP
— Matt Spillane (@MattSpillane) April 14, 2016
#Ramapo: St. Lawrence faces federal securities fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy charges. https://t.co/tf0h1kh7O3 pic.twitter.com/viZy8xsrXF
— nancy cutler (@nancyrockland) April 14, 2016
Excellent & in-depth NY Times article on Ramapo issues: https://t.co/IKrLhvy92u
— Chestnut Ridge Voice (@CRVillagerVoice) April 14, 2016
Ramapo and others were impetus for our LDC reform legislation, which passed in NYS Assembly. https://t.co/KZl5MxR6gd https://t.co/KdUeHImmDj
— Tom DiNapoli (@NYSComptroller) April 14, 2016
U.S. attorney Preet Bharara on #Ramapo supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence arrest pic.twitter.com/PckPiXK691
— TimCassidy12 (@timcassidy12) April 14, 2016
This article has been updated to account for information related to US Attorney Preet Bharara’s Thursday mid-morning news conference.
