Airmont, NY – Prosecutors say a councilman in a suburban New York town is accused of voting for zoning variances on a property he held a financial stake in.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Ramapo Councilman Samuel Tress found himself under arrest today, facing a felony charge of first-degree offering a false instrument and a misdemeanor count of official misconduct.
According to the Rockland District Attorney’s Office, the charges against Tress stem from his vote in support of a zoning change for a housing development in which he had a financial stake.
As a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Tress had previously signed an affidavit attesting he would not profit in any way from his post. “With full knowledge and awareness, I affirm that I do not have, I have not engaged in and I will not engage in any activity that would provide a personal or pecuniary gain to myself, my spouse, or my dependents from the activity (activities) in which I now give (or am about to give) my services to the Town of Ramapo or any affiliated or associated board, commission or agency thereof,” Tress wrote.
But prosecutors say that on May 4, 2015, Tress voted to grant eight variances for a single-family house located at 142 Blauvelt Road in which he and his wife have an economic interest. Tress has denied the allegations that he had profited from the variance approval to a Journal News reporter (http://lohud.us/1TbYIiN).
“The documentation will clearly show I didn’t gain financially,” Tress said. “The votes I made had no impact on any financial gain. I’ve seen the information and my attorney and I are awaiting to get all the documentation.”
The Councilman served as a zoning board member for many years before being elected to the Ramapo Town Board in November, defeating incumbent Councilman Daniel Friedman in the September primary.
Tress is no stranger to controversy. Earlier reports in The Journal News revealed prior to his election that he was in fact a resident of Lakewood, New Jersey and also had a federal mail-fraud conviction.
Initially, Tress said he rented a Monsey apartment, but later clarified, “I’m not denying that I live in New Jersey, but I am most of the week in Monsey.”
The investigation leading to Tress’ arrest was carried out by the Public Corruption Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the Rockland District Attorney’s Office.
does America have a DOUBLE STANDARD when it comes to Yidden???
Read BELOW:
Nearly 90,000 sign petition calling for Bill Clinton’s arrest Published: Mar 3, 2016 2:30 p.m. ET
Bill Clinton just might be “feeling the Bern” of some ornery Bernie Sanders supporters this week.
There’s a movement calling for Clinton’s immediate arrest after he allegedly broke Massachusetts election laws leading up to his wife’s big win on Tuesday in the state’s primary.
The backlash began following reports from multiple cities of Clinton visiting polling stations and greeting workers amid throngs of security and media.So far, more than 85,000 people have signed the Change.org petition, which was apparently started by Veronica Wolski and accuses the former president of “clear, knowing and egregious violation of the campaign laws to swing an election in a significant way.”
She pointed out that Massachusetts law forbids “campaigning within 150 feet of a polling station, or in any way interfering with the right to vote.”
However, a spokesman for Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin told WCVB in Boston that Clinton broke no laws during his visit. “No one was prevented from voting,” he sa
Samuel Tress is a corrupt politician who got caught. Why is a guy with a felony conviction on the town board? Sorry but Ramapo is corrupt as it gets.
Does he have a son Moshe mark tress?from Lakewood?