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Ramapo Chief Building Inspector Anthony Mallia arrested
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2016/09/15/ramapo-anthony-mallia-arrested/90400110/
The scheme allegedly involved 33 new construction projects in 2015
RAMAPO - Chief Building Inspector Anthony Mallia was arrested Thursday night on 100 felony charges alleging he gave builders cut-rate fees, depriving the town taxpayers of more than $100,000.
Mallia's year-long scheme involved falsifying building permits and grossly undercharging contractors seeking permits, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe charged. The lost money is based upon the estimated cost of 33 new residential construction projects during 2015.
Zugibe said the elaborate scheme allegedly orchestrated by Mallia sidestepped public safety. Rockland District Attorney's Office detectives combed through Ramapo Building Department records to make the case, he said.
The investigation didn't find evidence that Mallia personally profited from the matter, according to Zugibe.
“This case goes to the very heart of corruption,” Zugibe said. “His breach of the people's trust comes at a time when the residents .... are demanding honesty from their leaders. Such self-serving criminal behavior severely undermines public confidence in government and will not be tolerated."
Mallia faces one count of second-degree grand larceny and 33 felony counts each of first-degree tampering with public records, first-degree falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing. He also is charged with misdemeanor official misconduct and theft of services.
Mallia was arrested at his home and arraigned in Ramapo Town Court on the charges about 9:30 p.m. He was escorted into court by investigators from the Rockland District Attorney's office with his hands handcuffed in front of him. Airmont Justice Karen Riley asked Mallia how much bail he could afford and he answered, "Very little."
Riley set bail at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond. She said she was not comfortable releasing Mallia without bail based on the number of charges and the risk he could flee.
Mallia declined comment on the matter. He is due to return to Airmont Village Court on the charges Oct. 6. Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran said authorities were continuing to investigate the case.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence did not return a call seeking comment. Deputy Supervisor Patrick Withers said he would be requesting an emergency meeting of the town board about the matter, which could take place as early as Friday.
Mallia's arrest comes as Ramapo remains under scrutiny from the state for allegedly not enforcing fire and zoning codes, allowing schools to operate without planning board approvals and buildings to linger with violations. The state Division of Building Standards and Codes has threatened to take control of Ramapo inspections because of issues.
STATE RIPS RAMAPO AND SPRING VALLEY ENFORCEMENT
A state Department of Education agency also found violations at several schools inspected by one of Mallia's fire inspector, Adam Peltz, who had reported finding no violations on his visits. The town suspended Peltz for a month, demoted him from fire inspector, and took away his town car.
Mallia, also director of building, planning and zoning, is paid $169,618, according to the state SeeThroughNY website, and lives in Airmont, where his home is up for sale for $1 million. Ramapo initially hired Mallia in March 2008 as a part-time inspector at $24,127 a year. He shot up the ladder to assistant director of building and zoning and building inspector in 2011 before getting his leadership post several years ago.
Under his tenure, the Rockland County Health Department also began inspecting schools and other buildings under the county sanitary code.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said: "What happens in Ramapo affects all of Rockland. When one official responsible for carrying out the taxpayer’s business applies the rules unfairly, we all suffer. There is one set of rules, one set of laws that everyone is expected to follow.”
The District Attorney's Office investigation into Mallia and the Building Department follows several arrests within the past year by an anti-corruption task force in conjunction with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office.
Former Councilman Samuel Tress, 71, resigned his seat Sept. 1 after pleading guilty to official misconduct for admitting he voted as a Zoning Board of Appeals member on a housing development in which he had a financial interest
Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and former deputy town attorney Aaron Troodler, meanwhile, face federal charges of securities and wire fraud and conspiracy involving the financing of the town's baseball stadium and other projects developed through the town's Ramapo Development Corp. They face trial in January. They and two other local officials face related SEC civil charges.
Meanwhile, the former mayor of Spring Valley, Noramie Jasmin, and former deputy mayor, Joseph Desmaret, are serving federal prison terms for taking bribes offered by a crooked Monsey developer working undercover for the FBI and Rockland District Attorney's Office.
Twitter: @lohudlegal
Officials: State must take over Ramapo fire inspections
RAMAPO - New York state officials are expected to hand down an order calling on the town to immediately enforce fire and zoning codes in buildings and schools littered with violations, or face a state takeover.
Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City, said the Department of state’s Division of Building Standards and Codes is preparing to issue an order that Ramapo's housing department take corrective action to enforce safety and fire codes.
“This is the first step in finally restoring some law and order in this town," Zebrowski said Friday. "Over the past several years, we’ve been documenting instance after instance where the building, fire and zoning codes have been completely ignored.”
Zebrowski said that he is calling for an “abbreviated time frame of compliance” for Ramapo of 10 day. The assemblyman added he had little faith in the town's ability to comply with order, and called for either the state or Rockland County to take over Ramapo's building department as soon as possible.
Town officials, Zebrowski said, "dangerously turn a blind eye to obvious life-threatening conditions.”
The state's order is expected to be issued late Friday or Monday.
The order is expected to be similar to the one the state issued to Spring Valley in October regarding uninspected buildings rife with dangers to tenants and students.
Earlier Friday, Zebrowski and other lawmakers, as well as emergency officials, joined together at the Rockland County Fire Training Center to call for immediate state action in Ramapo and Spring Valley, where they said fire and building codes have not been followed. They said a systemic failure of code enforcement warrants intervention from the highest level in the wake of a fire inspection scandal.
Firefighters described conditions they say they are routinely navigating in private schools in Ramapo and Spring Valley — exit doors with deadbolts, exposed wiring, and extension cords snaking across bathrooms floors.
First responders "more and more have been responding to conditions that were not only deplorable, but clearly illegal," Zebrowski said.
At the training center, Zebrowski also called for state officials to take over the Ramapo and Spring Valley building departments or give Rockland County the authority to do so. He said the state has warned those municipalities about that possibility, and that it was crucial to protect the safety of students who are being taught in unsafe conditions.
"These are conditions that are asking for a tragedy to happen. I've had fruitful conversations with the state. We're hoping that (action) will be (taken) rather immediately," said Zebrowski, who was joined by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, and state Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown.
Gordon Wren Jr., the county's fire and emergency services coordinator, noted the state recommended that Spring Valley hire more inspectors, which the village has not done.
"That's sending a loud message," he said.
Wren cited the property at 33 Forshay Road in Monsey as an example of this issue. The property includes a single-family house and is illegally operating as a yeshiva and bakery, with trailers dumped onto the land, he said.
A violation dated April 4 was seen posted on one of the trailers Friday afternoon, with the lights still on inside a trailer that was surrounded by broken windows, debris, garbage and graffiti. Wren said the yeshiva was still being used despite the conditions.
"If your child was in one of those schools, how many days would you wait for action? We cannot let this go on month after month after month for the inevitable tragedy," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
The news conference followed the revelation this week that the state has accused Ramapo Fire Inspector Adam Peltz of carrying out shoddy inspections at four private schools in the county: The Rockland Institute for Special Education, Bais Yaakov, Green Meadow Waldorf and Bais Yehuda.
Peltz, who also serves as the president of the Monsey Fire Department, was assigned to desk duty earlier this week by Ramapo Building Inspector Anthony Mallia, according to Ramapo Town Attorney Michael Klein.
Peltz's benching was disclosed a day before town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was arrested on federal charges stemming from Ramapo's controversial baseball stadium.
The number of illegal private schools and other buildings in Ramapo prompted the state Division of Building Standards and Codes to threaten to take control of town inspections.
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2016/09/15/ramapo-anthony-mallia-arrested/90400110/
The scheme allegedly involved 33 new construction projects in 2015
RAMAPO - Chief Building Inspector Anthony Mallia was arrested Thursday night on 100 felony charges alleging he gave builders cut-rate fees, depriving the town taxpayers of more than $100,000.
Mallia's year-long scheme involved falsifying building permits and grossly undercharging contractors seeking permits, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe charged. The lost money is based upon the estimated cost of 33 new residential construction projects during 2015.
Zugibe said the elaborate scheme allegedly orchestrated by Mallia sidestepped public safety. Rockland District Attorney's Office detectives combed through Ramapo Building Department records to make the case, he said.
The investigation didn't find evidence that Mallia personally profited from the matter, according to Zugibe.
“This case goes to the very heart of corruption,” Zugibe said. “His breach of the people's trust comes at a time when the residents .... are demanding honesty from their leaders. Such self-serving criminal behavior severely undermines public confidence in government and will not be tolerated."
Mallia faces one count of second-degree grand larceny and 33 felony counts each of first-degree tampering with public records, first-degree falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing. He also is charged with misdemeanor official misconduct and theft of services.
Mallia was arrested at his home and arraigned in Ramapo Town Court on the charges about 9:30 p.m. He was escorted into court by investigators from the Rockland District Attorney's office with his hands handcuffed in front of him. Airmont Justice Karen Riley asked Mallia how much bail he could afford and he answered, "Very little."
Riley set bail at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond. She said she was not comfortable releasing Mallia without bail based on the number of charges and the risk he could flee.
Mallia declined comment on the matter. He is due to return to Airmont Village Court on the charges Oct. 6. Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran said authorities were continuing to investigate the case.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence did not return a call seeking comment. Deputy Supervisor Patrick Withers said he would be requesting an emergency meeting of the town board about the matter, which could take place as early as Friday.
Mallia's arrest comes as Ramapo remains under scrutiny from the state for allegedly not enforcing fire and zoning codes, allowing schools to operate without planning board approvals and buildings to linger with violations. The state Division of Building Standards and Codes has threatened to take control of Ramapo inspections because of issues.
STATE RIPS RAMAPO AND SPRING VALLEY ENFORCEMENT
A state Department of Education agency also found violations at several schools inspected by one of Mallia's fire inspector, Adam Peltz, who had reported finding no violations on his visits. The town suspended Peltz for a month, demoted him from fire inspector, and took away his town car.
Mallia, also director of building, planning and zoning, is paid $169,618, according to the state SeeThroughNY website, and lives in Airmont, where his home is up for sale for $1 million. Ramapo initially hired Mallia in March 2008 as a part-time inspector at $24,127 a year. He shot up the ladder to assistant director of building and zoning and building inspector in 2011 before getting his leadership post several years ago.
Under his tenure, the Rockland County Health Department also began inspecting schools and other buildings under the county sanitary code.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said: "What happens in Ramapo affects all of Rockland. When one official responsible for carrying out the taxpayer’s business applies the rules unfairly, we all suffer. There is one set of rules, one set of laws that everyone is expected to follow.”
The District Attorney's Office investigation into Mallia and the Building Department follows several arrests within the past year by an anti-corruption task force in conjunction with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office.
Former Councilman Samuel Tress, 71, resigned his seat Sept. 1 after pleading guilty to official misconduct for admitting he voted as a Zoning Board of Appeals member on a housing development in which he had a financial interest
Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and former deputy town attorney Aaron Troodler, meanwhile, face federal charges of securities and wire fraud and conspiracy involving the financing of the town's baseball stadium and other projects developed through the town's Ramapo Development Corp. They face trial in January. They and two other local officials face related SEC civil charges.
Meanwhile, the former mayor of Spring Valley, Noramie Jasmin, and former deputy mayor, Joseph Desmaret, are serving federal prison terms for taking bribes offered by a crooked Monsey developer working undercover for the FBI and Rockland District Attorney's Office.
Twitter: @lohudlegal
Officials: State must take over Ramapo fire inspections
RAMAPO - New York state officials are expected to hand down an order calling on the town to immediately enforce fire and zoning codes in buildings and schools littered with violations, or face a state takeover.
Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City, said the Department of state’s Division of Building Standards and Codes is preparing to issue an order that Ramapo's housing department take corrective action to enforce safety and fire codes.
“This is the first step in finally restoring some law and order in this town," Zebrowski said Friday. "Over the past several years, we’ve been documenting instance after instance where the building, fire and zoning codes have been completely ignored.”
Zebrowski said that he is calling for an “abbreviated time frame of compliance” for Ramapo of 10 day. The assemblyman added he had little faith in the town's ability to comply with order, and called for either the state or Rockland County to take over Ramapo's building department as soon as possible.
Town officials, Zebrowski said, "dangerously turn a blind eye to obvious life-threatening conditions.”
The state's order is expected to be issued late Friday or Monday.
The order is expected to be similar to the one the state issued to Spring Valley in October regarding uninspected buildings rife with dangers to tenants and students.
Earlier Friday, Zebrowski and other lawmakers, as well as emergency officials, joined together at the Rockland County Fire Training Center to call for immediate state action in Ramapo and Spring Valley, where they said fire and building codes have not been followed. They said a systemic failure of code enforcement warrants intervention from the highest level in the wake of a fire inspection scandal.
Firefighters described conditions they say they are routinely navigating in private schools in Ramapo and Spring Valley — exit doors with deadbolts, exposed wiring, and extension cords snaking across bathrooms floors.
First responders "more and more have been responding to conditions that were not only deplorable, but clearly illegal," Zebrowski said.
At the training center, Zebrowski also called for state officials to take over the Ramapo and Spring Valley building departments or give Rockland County the authority to do so. He said the state has warned those municipalities about that possibility, and that it was crucial to protect the safety of students who are being taught in unsafe conditions.
"These are conditions that are asking for a tragedy to happen. I've had fruitful conversations with the state. We're hoping that (action) will be (taken) rather immediately," said Zebrowski, who was joined by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, and state Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown.
Gordon Wren Jr., the county's fire and emergency services coordinator, noted the state recommended that Spring Valley hire more inspectors, which the village has not done.
"That's sending a loud message," he said.
Wren cited the property at 33 Forshay Road in Monsey as an example of this issue. The property includes a single-family house and is illegally operating as a yeshiva and bakery, with trailers dumped onto the land, he said.
A violation dated April 4 was seen posted on one of the trailers Friday afternoon, with the lights still on inside a trailer that was surrounded by broken windows, debris, garbage and graffiti. Wren said the yeshiva was still being used despite the conditions.
"If your child was in one of those schools, how many days would you wait for action? We cannot let this go on month after month after month for the inevitable tragedy," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
The news conference followed the revelation this week that the state has accused Ramapo Fire Inspector Adam Peltz of carrying out shoddy inspections at four private schools in the county: The Rockland Institute for Special Education, Bais Yaakov, Green Meadow Waldorf and Bais Yehuda.
Peltz, who also serves as the president of the Monsey Fire Department, was assigned to desk duty earlier this week by Ramapo Building Inspector Anthony Mallia, according to Ramapo Town Attorney Michael Klein.
Peltz's benching was disclosed a day before town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence was arrested on federal charges stemming from Ramapo's controversial baseball stadium.
The number of illegal private schools and other buildings in Ramapo prompted the state Division of Building Standards and Codes to threaten to take control of town inspections.
