Sources: Dozens involved in Rockland corruption probe

Sources tell News 12 that a federal corruption probe in Rockland County is zeroing in on as many as 50 people, most of whom are elected officials. The sources say the countywide investigation began

News 12 Staff

Mar 10, 2016, 6:52 PM

Updated 3,355 days ago

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Sources tell News 12 that a federal corruption probe in Rockland County is zeroing in on as many as 50 people, most of whom are elected officials.
The sources say the countywide investigation began three years in Ramapo, with red flags being raised over how Provident Bank Park -- the home field of the Rockland Boulders -- was funded.
The feds raided Ramapo Town Hall and began looking at Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence's office in 2013, seizing boxes of records. On Wednesday, multiple high-ranking sources told News 12 that the investigation has now come to a head, with federal corruption indictments looming over as many as 50 people.
St. Lawrence, who is widely known for his ties to Hasidic investors, was not at Town Hall Wednesday and did not return requests to comment by late afternoon.
Sources say the investigation may have already claimed one life. Former county Director of Transportation Thomas Vanderbeek committed suicide last month because friends say he was aware of his involvement in the probe.
Elected town and county leaders are facing federal indictments under the U.S. attorney's probe, sources say, as well as a number of Hasidic businessmen with Israeli passports who are allegedly tied to illegal Provident Bank Park funding and the funneling of public funds to private yeshivas.