RAMAPO COMMUNITY LEADER CHARGED IN FORGERY SCHEME

DA’S Press Release

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Albert “Shimon” Sontag (DOB 7/14/35) of 74 Remsen Avenue, Monsey, New York has been arrested and charged with:

Forgery in the second degree, a class “D” felony

Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class “D” felony

Offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a class “E” felony

Detectives from the Rockland County District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit arrested Sontag on September 22, 2014.

It is alleged that in May 2014, the defendant submitted fraudulent documentation for the purpose of attempting to secure a tax exemption on a 34-acre parcel of land in Ramapo owned by the Rose Ocko Foundation, of which the defendant is president. Sontag is accused of submitting a forged letter to the Town of Ramapo, claiming to be from an engineer. The letter claimed that certain steps had been taken in an effort to utilize the property in a fashion that would render the property eligible for a tax exemption.

This case was investigated by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit.

Sontag was arraigned in the Village of Airmont Justice Court.

The defendant faces up to seven years in state prison, if convicted.

This case is being prosecuted by Richard K. Moran, Supervising Assistant District Attorney.

Sontag has contested his innocence and hired former Rockland DA Kenneth Gribetz as his counsel.

“He firmly states he’s innocent of all the charges,” Gribetz told the Journal News.