WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A suburban New York town supervisor has been convicted of federal charges related to the financing of a controversial stadium.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was convicted Friday by a White Plains federal court jury of 20 counts of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. He was acquitted of one count each of securities fraud and wire fraud.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said in a release that the conviction marked the first conviction for securities fraud in connection with municipal bonds.
The fraud pertained in part to the issuance of $25 million in bonds to pay for construction of a minor league baseball stadium. The stadium cost $58 million.
Prosecutors said the 65-year-old St. Lawrence of Wesley Hills, New York, lied to investors about the town’s financial problems.
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The supervisor of the heavily Jewish town of Ramapo in suburban New York was found guilty of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to conceal the damage done to the towns finances by the construction of a local baseball stadium.
The town supervisor, Christopher St. Lawrence, faces a potentially heavy prison sentence. He remained in office through his arrest, indictment and trial. He was automatically removed by virtue of his conviction.
Ramapo includes the Orthodox-dominated villages of New Square, Monsey, Airmont and Kaser. It also includes the troubled East Ramapo School district, where Orthodox and non-Jewish residents have struggled for control. St. Lawrence enjoyed the support of the Orthodox communities of Ramapo, and was thought to act in their interests, according to the Journal News, a local paper.
Ramapo was found guilty of lying to investors in the town’s municipal bonds in order to overstate the financial security of the town.
St. Lawrence’s co-defendant, Aaron Troodler, the former executive director of a local development group, pleaded guilty last month.