NEW CITY – Ramapo Town Councilman Shmuel Tress, also known as Samuel Tress, of Monsey, was arrested on charges relating to financial conflict of interest.
Tress, 71, was charged with a felony of offering a false instrument for filing and a misdemeanor for official misconduct.
In May 2015, Tress was serving as a member of the Ramapo Zoning Board of Appeals and according to the charges, held a significant financial interest in 142 Blauvelt, LLC, owner of 142 Blauvelt Road in Monsey.
On May 4, as a member of the ZBA, during a board session, he allegedly cast the deciding vote with respect to the granting of eight zoning variances in favor of the property.
It is alleged that Tress failed to disclose his financial interest in the property.
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said that on May 14, 2015, Tress defrauded the town by filing a disclosure affirmation asserting he had not and would not engage in any activity that would provide a personal or pecuniary gain to himself in relation to his duties as a member of the ZBA.
Tress is not a member of the Ramapo Town Board.
If convicted, he could face up to four years in state prison.
