FROM THE DA’S OFFICE
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced the filing of criminal charges against the Town of Ramapo Director of Building, Planning and Zoning for allegedly stealing over $100,000 in a yearlong scheme to falsify building permit applications as the result of an investigation conducted by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit.
Anthony Mallia (DOB 06/14/64) of 5 Biret Drive, Airmont, New York is charged with:
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony
• 33 counts of Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, class “D” Felonies
• 33 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies
• 33 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing, class “E” Felonies
• One count of Official Misconduct, a class “A” Misdemeanor
“This case goes to the very heart of corruption,” said District Attorney Zugibe. “According to the charges, the defendant developed an elaborate scheme to steal taxpayer money rather than to ensure public safety and compliance. His breach of the people’s trust comes at a time when the residents of Ramapo are demanding honesty from their leaders. Such self-serving criminal behavior severely undermines public confidence in government and will not be tolerated.”
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.”
District Attorney Zugibe said that, according to the criminal complaint, Mallia was grossly undercharging contractors for building permit applications for new residential construction projects. In the Town of Ramapo building permit fees are determined by “cost of construction.” Throughout 2015, the defendant allegedly approved building permit applications which greatly underestimated the actual cost of construction.
The complaint alleges that Mallia stole more than $100,000 through his scheme, which involved altering and falsely recording the cost of construction for 33 building permit applications, thereby reducing the collection of fees legally owed to the Town of Ramapo. The defendant is accused of filing the phony records with Ramapo’s Building, Planning and Zoning Department.
The defendant is charged with the theft of the fees, in addition to various charges related to the falsification of official town records.
(It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty)
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