DA: No connection between raids, corruption probe

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe on Thursday broke his silence on the FBI raids that have targeted multiple yeshivas this week in Ramapo. Those yeshivas were raided Wednesday to determine

News 12 Staff

Mar 18, 2016, 6:02 AM

Updated 3,148 days ago

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Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe on Thursday broke his silence on the FBI raids that have targeted multiple yeshivas this week in Ramapo.
Those yeshivas were raided Wednesday to determine if millions of federal dollars earmarked for computer programs were illegally misappropriated or pocketed by those involved.
As News 12 has reported, the investigation is reportedly linked to fraud in a federal grant program called E-rate that reimburses local governments for providing Internet and computer services in low-income areas. E-rate began in 1998 and distributes more than $4 billion annually for computer and Internet access across the nation. Agents were seen leaving several locations with computer equipment.
Zugibe said that Wednesday's FBI fraud raids at two dozen homes, businesses and yeshivas in Monsey are separate from the "Corridor of Corruption" probe launched by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara three years ago, even though others believe there is a connection.
The district attorney said he denied specific information received by sources, but not the ongoing investigation itself.
"It's an aggressive investigation," Zugibe said. "We expect a lot of activity going forward."
As for the federal raids, Zugibe said they are part of an ongoing fraud investigation involving money intended for public use going to private groups.
He wouldn't comment on whether any specific elected officials are under investigation, but said he does not expect arrests anytime soon as a result of either federal probe in Rockland.
Also on Thursday, state Sen. David Carlucci called on congressional leaders to make them aware that since federal money may have been misused at a number of yeshivas, there should be more oversight into the program.